,^^ "*, 






.A>' ■ 



•*>/. V' 



-f- 



^ % 












"'^y .,A^> 






.5 t.. 









-^'^^ 






<^ 


















'-^^ V^' 



■^ ■a 



^^. v-^^ 









i,' -s-^ 






V 



•^A V 



i."* 



'».~^' 






N>'.-::'^ 



'^-^ V*' 






.^'■^■^ 






»^\l^-' 



■•^ 









.0 o 



,0'^ 



„*'^' 






,0 o 



^ 0' 



^.■. 






%,.^ 



'<!,- c^ 



A^^' ^^ 



00' 



'^.. s* 




*.*•% .\l-ii 










"m"' 

H' 



'^ 



\ 



i IflDLAND COUNTY, MICH. 



K 



i; 



^OI^Tr^AITS AND BlOGl^APHIGAIi Sl^ETGHES 
pfoniinent and I^eppB^8i|tatiVB Citizei]^ of t^e [lountij, 

TOGETHER WITH PORTRAITS AXD BrOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERXORS OF MICHIOA X 
AXD OF THE PRESIDEXTS Of 7 HE UXITED STATES. 



ALSO CONTAINING A COMPLETE IlISTOKV OK THE COL'NTV, IISOM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT 

TO THE PRESENT TIME. 



CHICAGO: 

VPMAN UKO! 
1884. 




^ 



f 







r*-K 



•K^-qd:<D0v>^ 



^^M^ 






<my.m> 



s^>»^^>j^ 









Q/ 



A 






V 

> 

(!) 



-^1 









■^-TT^ )^§$;^ 



rai: 






tea) 






^: 



V 

( 



(^ 






s 



'> 






/ 




-^^^^k^ 



-=-_L. 



>^ 



-S^^*>- 



fG 



f 



^^r?^^^ 



T^C^^ 



■7<^[la>;Dil^:>:-r^■ 



> 



^^B 





^ 



"^ 



sua 

4 

i 



E HAVE completed our labors in writing and compiling the Tor trait and Biogr.aph- 
, :CAL Album of Midland Countv, and wish, in presenting it to its patrons, to speak 
.efly of the importance of local works of this nature. It is certainly the duly 
". oi the present to commemorate the past, to perpeiuatethe names of the pioneers, 
to furnish a record of their early settlement, and to relate the storj- of their progress. 
The civilization of our day, the enlightemnent of the age, and this solemn duty which 
- • ^ '^ men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity 
demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In local historj- is found a power 
to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe 
vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this region from its 
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the noble men who in their prime entered 
the wild forests of Midland and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to 
their graves. The number remaining who can relate the history of the first days of settlement is 
becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessit)- exists for the collection and preservation of his- 
torical matter without delay, before the settlers of the wilderness are cut down by time. Not only 
is it of the greatest importance to render history of pioneer times full and accurate, but it is also essen" 
tial that the history- of the count)-, from its settlement to the present day, should be treated through its various 
phases, so that a record, complete and impartial, may be handed down to the future. The present the age 
of progress, is reviewed, standing out in bold relief over the quiet, unostentatious olden times ; it is abrilliant 
record, which is destined to live in the future; the good works of men, their magnificent enterprises, their 
lives, whether commercial or militarj", do not sink into oblivion, but, on the contrar}-, grow brighter with age, 
and contribute to build up a record which carries with it precedents and principles that will be advanced and 
observed when the acts of soulless men will be forgotten, and their very names hidden in obscurity. 

In the preparation of the personal sketches contained in this volume, unusual care and pains were 
taken to have them accurate, even in the smallest detail. Indeed, nothing was passed lightly over or treated 
indifferently, and we flatter ourselves that it is one of the most accurate works of its nature ever published. 
As one of the most interesting features of this work, we present the portraits of numerous representa- 
tive citizens. It has been our aim to have the prominent men of to-day. as well as the pioneers, represented 
in this department ; and we congratulate ourselves on the uniformly high character of the gentlemen whose 
portraits we present. They are in the strictest sense representative men, and are selected from all the call- 
inss and professions worthy to be represented. There are others, it is true, who claim equal prominence with 
those presented, but of course it was impossible for us to give portraits of all the leading men and pioneers 
of the county. We are under great obligation to many of the noble and generous people of Midland 
County for kindly and material assistance in the preparation of this Albcm. 

CHAPMAN BROTHERS. 
Chicago, S€pUmbfr, 1884. 



t 



T 
I 



f 









( 



r 



r 



'jc 



< 



-^v 



■^-^^n!i>:iin>>^ 



-^4^-^xy^ 






I 



'^ 



--^^ ^T^:D^>^:DIl^>r^ :^^^ 4^^5(©V^ 



(9JJ 



T 






;^ 



'-!) 







C< 






(■ 



:^ 



^. 



<^D!]:^tia;>^ 



mtf^y^^ 



-:2^^ eV^^DDi^IlD^^ 



J^ 



r^^^^^^ 



4^^f^<^) 



(^ 



) 



:^ 



5§ 









yto; 



^>'. 



^ 



(^ 



^V^^^^#- is^C^J^ 



K^ 



-^C^D [1 ^ DI];>^ Si^)5-_ 



.J 






W}-/^^^^ ^^^^ ^V<^llH^tlI]r>r-^ :^^^ 












Vto) 



) 



>5 



V 





^^n!i:<^iiti;> 






C< 






( 



^ 



^ /y ^: 




1 





/Hk^- 



IB 




i'^^^/^l>)^tf^ 



kLviT^U 




h 






> 



t 



^ 
# 




7 'A s^TnrTmjrf^fB^^^mr 








HE Father of our Country was 
^ born in Westmorland Co., Va., 
^ Feb. 22, 1732. His parents 
were Augustine and Mary 
(Ball) Washington. The family 
to which he belonged has not 
been satisfactorily traced in 
England. His great-grand- 
father, John Washington, em- 
igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
and became a prosperous 
planter. He had two sons, 
Lawrence and John. The 
former married Mildred Warner 
and had three children, John. 
Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
tine, the father of George, first 
married Jane Butler, who bore 
him four children, two of whom, 
Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
maturity. Of six children by his 
second marriage, George was the 
eldest, the others being Betty, 
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 
and Mildred. 
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
and to George he left the parental residence. George 
received only such education as the neighborhood 
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
school, when he received private instruction in 
mathematics. His spelling was rather defective. 



Remarkable stories are told of his great physical 
strength and development at an early age. He was 
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 

When George was i4years old he had a desire to go to 
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
abandoned. Two years later he was appointed 
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
life, gaining e.xperience which afterwards proved very 
essential to him. In 175 i, though only 19 years of 
age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of 
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
active service against the French and Lidians. Soon 
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health They 
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddle, as Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
reorganized, and the province divided into four niili- 
tar)' districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
a vet)' perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, 
and the journey was to be made without military 
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 



9 

A 






^' 



^ 



f 



no;^ 



-i^^f^ 










■3^5>tf^r 



GEORGE WASHIXGlOy 






t 

1^ 






>: 



V 



J 



\ 



-^ 






trip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near 
losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished 
a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment 
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in cxmu- 
mand of Col. Joshua Fn". and Major Washington was 
commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Acuve war was 
then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
NVashington took a most imfonani part. In the 
memorable event of Jaly 9, 1755. known as Brad- 
dcx:k"3 defeat, Washington was sJmost the onlyoflScer 
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
alone was left in that capacity on the iield. In a letter 
to hb brother he sa)-s : " I had four bullets through 
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
unhurt, though death was leveling my companions 
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
not bom to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
him. 

.•\fter having been five years in the military semce, 
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he 
look advantage erf the fall of Fort Duqcesne and the 
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
to resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
Lesislaf.:re. where, although not a leader, he took an 
active and important part. January 17. 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Cusris, the wealthy 
widow of John Parke Cusris. 

\\"hen the British Parliament had closed the port 
of Boston, the cry went up thtougboat the provinces 
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
gress of all the colonies was called xo meet at Phfla- 
del •;>hia,Sept. 5, r774.tosecuretheircommonliberties, 
peaceablv if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the 
Conjres^ re-assembled, when the hostile intentions erf 
England were plainly apparent. The battles of Coi>- 
cord 3u»d Lexington had been fought, .\inong the 
first acK of this Congress was the election of a com- 
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
lesponsTole ofiBce was conferred upon Washington, 
who was still a memberof the Congress. He accepted 
it on Tune 19, bat upon the express condition that be 
receive no salary. He would keep an exact accoant 
of expenses and expect Congress 10 pay them and 
nothing mote. It is not the object of this sketch to 
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
fortunes and liberties of the people of this countir 
were so long confided. The w.\r was conducted hf 
him under every" possible d!5adv.-j.ntage. and while his 
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
otetade, and after seven )-e3rs of heroic devotion 
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
nation of earth. On Dec 23, rySs, Washington, in 
.\ ranins address <rf suroassing beautv. resigned his 



commission as commander-in-chief of the army to 
to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He 
retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed 
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
connection with public life. 

In February, r 7 89, Washington was uiuuiiniously 
elected President. In his presidential career he was 
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
government : trials dom lack of confidence on the pan 
of other governments; trials from want of haimcHiT 
between the different sections of our own country : 
trials £rom the impoverished cc»>dition of the country, 
owing to the war and want of credit; trials fiom the 
b^nnin^ of party strife. He was ik> partisan. His 
clear judgment could discern the golden mean ; aiMi 
while perhaps this alone kept our government £rom 
sinldng at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
attacks from both sides, which were often biner and 
very anrmring. 

.\t the exiMration of his first term he was unani- 
mously re-elected. At the eixi of this term many 
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he abscdutely 
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of Match, 
1797, at the ex^raton of his second term as Presi- 
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
his few remaining years free fitHn the annoyances of 
public life. Later in the year, however, his rep(Ke 
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with FraiK^e. 
.\t the prospect of such a war be was again urged to 
take ct»nmand of the anaies. He chose tuis sab- 
ordtnate cheers and left xo them the charge of mat- 
ters in the field, which be superintecded from his 
home. In accepting the command he made the 
reservation that he was not to be in the field nntD 
it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations 
h<s life was suddenly cut off. December 1 2. he took 
a severe cold fiom a ride in the rain, which, settling 
in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated 
fatallv on the night <rf the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
teenth hb body was borne with military honors to its 
final resting place, and int^ied in the family vault at 
Mount Vemcm. 

Of the character of Washington it b impossible to 
speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
miration. The more we see of the operations of 
oar government, and the more deeply we feel the 
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal- 
ent and character, which have been able ro challenge 
the ieverei>ce of all parties, and principles, and na- 
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limiis 
of the globe, and which we cannot bot bdieve will 
be as lasting as the existmoe of man. 

The person of Washington was unosally tall, erect 
and well proportioned. Hb moscalar strength was 
great. Hb features were of a beantifal symmetry. 
He commanded respect witboot any appearance of 
ha airiness, and ever soioas withoat bang duIL 



^ 






< 
A 



t=; 






r 



i 



■f»>. 



"Vf X:^ " 



■^^€^^ 



-V 



<: 



y- 



-^^^ 



" f ^ ^X v^ 





M'nMam 



^ 




■VT-)5i^?i*- 



-:^^ 



■'r^mmh^^ 



■^^^ 



'f^st 



4^^^i^'^ 



^- 



> 



"^ 



a 

I 



SECOXn PRESJDEXT. 




-»5 



V 



JOHN ABAMS. ""*'■' 




t 

V 










> 



.^^ 



OHX ADAMS, the second 
-President and the first Vice- 
" President of the United States. 
was bona in Braintree ( now 
Quincy \Mass., and about ten 
,^3- -a - miles from Boston. Oct. lo. 
- -' ^'~_;;_c 1735. His greai-grandtather, Heniy 
.\dams, emigrated from England 
about 1 640, with a family of eight 
sons, and settled at Braiutiee. The 
parents of John were John and 
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
father was a fanner of limited 
means, to which he added the bus- 
^sSk iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
'"*?■ eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
tion at Harvaid College. John 
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
school in Worcester. Mass. This he fouiMl but a 
"■ school of afSictJon." from which he endeavored to 
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself 
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
had thought seriously- of the clerical profession 
but seems to have been turned from this by what he 
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
cils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,"' 
of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
tive powers. He graduaUy gained practice, amd in 
1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
and a lady of saperior intelligence. Shordy after his 
marriage, (1765), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
tion turned him from law to politics. He toct initial 
steps toward holding a town meeting, and the resolu- 



V 



^ 



A 






tions he offered on the subject became very popular 
throughout the Province, and were adopted word for 
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
ton in 1 7 68, and became one of the most courageous 
and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and 
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
lislature) in 1770. 

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates 
fnxu Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
which inet in 1774. Here he distinguished himself 
by his capadt)- fot business and for debate, and ad- = 
vocated the movement for independence against the ^ 
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved = 
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
should assume the duties of self-government. He 
was a prominent member of the committee of five 
appointed June it. to prepare a declaration of inde- 
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
on Adams devolved the task of battling it through 
Congress in a three days debate. 

On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
was jxjissed, whfle his soul was yet warm with the 
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letrer tc his wife, 
which, as we read it now. seems to have been dictated 
by the spirit of prophecy. '"Yesterday." he says, "the 
greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or will 
be decided among men. A resolution w as passed 
without one dissenting colony, " that these United 
States are, and of tight ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent states.' The day is piassed. The fourth of 
July. 1776. will be a memorable epoch in the historj- 
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated 
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to .Almi^ty 
God. It ought to l>e solemnized with pomp, showi 



r 






■^•«y=- 



- V 



<-D!l>:ODi>^ 



•^^^^ 







i^ 



z^^K ^^V<4nil'^DIlf>':^^ :J&is- 



^ i ^ @x @vM' 



dj 



1 
f 



JOHN ADAMS. 



games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
from one end of the continent to the other, from this 
time forward for ever. You will think me transported 
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the 
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
worth more than all the means; and that posterity 
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I 
hope we shall not." 

In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
delegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money 
from the French Government. This was a severe trial 
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- 
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
1779. In September of the same year he was again 
chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
might lae found willing to listen to such pvoposels. He 
sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
Holland, where he negotiated important loans and 
formed important commercial treaties 

Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
was advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
Bath. While in England, still drooping anddespond- 
ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to 
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
5torni, on sea, on horseback and foot, he made the trip. 

February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr. Adams 
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
garded him as a traitor. As England did not 
condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- 
plishing but little, he sought permission to return to 
his own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 

When Washington was first chosen President, John 
Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President, .\gain 
at the second election of Washington as President, 
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
elected President.though not without much ojjposition. 
Serving in this office four years, he was succeeded by 
Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. 

While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 




French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people 
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
classof atheist [ihilosophers who he claimed caused it. 
On tiie other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or- 
iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ- 
ized, .'\dams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
sympathy with France. 

The world has seldom seen a spectacle oi more 
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
after death. No one could look upon his venerable 
form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
and how he had given up all the prime and strenj,th 
of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
good fortime to witness the complete success of the 
institution which he had lieen so active in creating and 
supporting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled 
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the higliest 
station in the gift of the people. 

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
signers of that immortal instrument left upon the 
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
well known, on that day two of these finished their 
earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
Adams had lieen rapidly failing, and on the morning 
of the fourth he found hmiself too weak to rise from 
his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
dependence FOREVER." When the day was ushered 
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and 
glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
"Jefferson s\irvives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
signed his spirit into the hands of his God. 

The i)ersonal appearance and manners of Mr. 
.'Vdams were not particularly prepossessing. His face, 
as his portrait manifests,was intellectual ard expres- 
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
manners were frequently abrupt and uncourteous. 
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
the engaging elegance and yracefulness which marked 
the manners and address of jeffersoi. 









r 



®,^^^^^ 



-^r^ 



1. 



^M 



mm>^' 






"^Mtz^ 



^>/^)«^# 



ZJ^^ 



■7<mmh^ 



■^^sr 



THIRD PRESIDEXT. 



« 



27 






i 







s 




,<a 




ss'f; 



A 



V 

5. 




fe 

^-'s 

V 



HOMAS JEFFERSON was 
•orn April 2, 1743, at Shad- 
well, Albermarle county, Va. 

His parents were Peter and 
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, 
the former a native of Wales, 
and the latter bom in Lon- 
don. To them were bom six 
daughters and two sons, of 
whom Thomas was the elder. 
When 14 years of age his 
^ father died. He received a 
most liberal education, hav- 
ing been kept diligently at school 
from the time he was five years of 
age. In 1760 he entered William 
and Marj- College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion 
aad splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine 
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he 
^ was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha- 
able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
such influences, that he was not ruined. In the sec- 
ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
society, and even his favorite violin. 10 which he had 
. previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
J hours a day to haid study, allowing himself for ex- 
ercise only a nm in the evening twilight of a mile out 
of the city and back again. He thus attained ver)- 
v/ high intellectual culture, alike e.xcellence in philoso- 
^ phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
\^ Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished 
7* scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls ; and 

^-Vl)^^^^. ^^^ — 



i 



there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 

Immediately upon leaving college he began the 
study of law. For the short time he continued in the 
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
guished himself by his energ)- and accuteness as a 
lawjer. But the times called for greater action. 
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
resistance of the -\nierican Colonies, and the enlarged 
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen 
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow. 

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell. there 
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which 
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
home; and here he reared a m.msion of modest yet 
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vemon, 
became the most distinguished reson in our land. 

I" '775 h^ was sent to the Colonial Congress, 
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he 
was placed upon a number of important committees, 
and was chairman of the one appwinted for the draw- 
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Shemian and Robert R. 
Livingston. Jefterson, as chainnan, was appointed 
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that 



A 



c 



I 




^^r^ 



j;^^ 



<mm^-^ 



-^^ 



f^ 



> 
5^ 






(f> 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



4^^f^(^;' 



man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
who was charged with the preparation of that Dec- 
laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of 
America, was also to publish her to the world, free, 
soverign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort 
of the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
Patrick Henry, i.s Governor of Virginia. At one time 
the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
Monticello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
minutes elapsed after tlie hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
very good, was much injured by tiiis excitement, and 
in the summer of 1782 she died. 

Mr. JetTerson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
Two yeirs later he was apiwinted Minister Plenipo- 
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State 
in Washington's cabinet. Tliis position he resigned 
Jan. r, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
dent, and four years later was elected President over 
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
and George Clinton, Vice President. 

The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
tion was disturbed by an event wliicli threatened the 
tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the con- 
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an \inprincipled 
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
military expedition into the Spanish territories on our 
southwestern frontier, for tlie purpose of forming there 
a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
character. 

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
to retire from political life. For a period of nearly 
forty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
lic, and all that time had lieen employed in offices of 
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
declining years required, and uiK>n the organization of 
the new administration, in March, rSog, he bid fare- 
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. 

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
families came in their coaches with their horses, — 
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
nurses, — and remained three and even six months. 
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a 
fashionable watering-place. 

The fourth of July, 1S26, being the fiftieth anniver- 



sary of the Declaration of American Independence 
great preparations were made in every part of the 
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer, 
and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- 
tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- 
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
had been continually increasing, compelled him to 
decline the invitation. 

On the second of July, the disease under which 
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
state that his medical attendants, entertained no 
hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next 
diiy, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
the third of July, he expresjed the earnest wish that 
he might be permitted to breathe the air of the fiftieth 
anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
life ! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - 
the day which his own name and his own act had 
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
was all that was wanting to till up the record his life. 

Almost at the same hour of his death, tlie kin- 
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear 
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. 
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of 
freedom ; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- 
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
century they had labored together for tlie good of 
the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
In their lives they had been united in the same great 
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
divided. 

In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
white and silver)'; his complexion was fair, his fore- 
head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and 
thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as 
well as personal courage ; and his command of tem- 
per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic ; and 
his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
discernable the care with which he formed his style 
upon the best models of antiqiiity. 



*^ 



A 






r 







y^m ^ niiv^v^ — ^^^ 



-«®s 



|^^5f 




I 




.m 






// 




/ 



i^^^U-^^ 



■^-^H^oc^^^^ 



fi-^y^ 






FOURTH PR f SI DENT. 



-4^^f(®V(^ 



31 




IJW^^ n]:aDisoi]. 



^\ AMES MADISON, "Father 
g) of the Constitution," and fourth 
President of tlie United States, 
was born March 16, 1757, and 
died at his home in Virginia, 
"^'' June 28, 1836. The name of 
Tames Madison is inseparably con- 
nected with most of the im[X)rtant 
events in that heroic period of our 
country during which the founda- 
tions of this great repubUc were 
laid. He was the last of the founders 
of the Constitution of the United 
States to be called to his eternal 
reward. 

The Madison family were among 
the early emigrants to the New World, 
landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
peake but 15 years after the settle- 
ment of Jamestown. The father of 
James Madison was an opulent 
planter, residing upon a very fine es- 
tate called " Montpelier," Orange Co., 
Va. The mansion was situated in 
the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
esque and romantic, on the west side 
of South-west Mountain, at the foot of 
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of 
Jefferson at Monticello. Tlie closest personal and 
political attachment existed between these illustrious 
men, from their early youth until death. 

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 





prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three 
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
seriously impaired that lie never recovered any vigor 
of constitution. He graduated in 177 i, with a feeble 
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subse- 
quent career. 

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
which he lived, and the society with which he asso- 
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of 
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
mind, and his frail health leading liim to think that 
his life was not to be long, he diiected especial atten- 
tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mind 
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed 
all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
until his faith became so established as never to 
be shaken. 

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
(1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
He refused to treat the whisky-loving voters, and 
consequently lost his election ; but those who had 
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 

Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his 



Vto) 



(^ 



^ 






t 



)^^# 



-^. 



A 



<>D!i:^niiv>'r^3 — ^*€»^ 




^ 

i. 



'^ 



i 

1 

V 

s 



>v* 



32 



JAMES MADISON. 







intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
a little to his subseiiuent eminence. In the year 
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
the most conspicuous jwsitions among them. 

For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- 
gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
In the year 17 84, his term having expired, he was 
elected a member of the \'irginia Legislature. 

No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
utter inetticiency ot the old confederacy, with no na- 
tional government, with no iwwer to form treaties 
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
was not any State more prominent than Virginia in 
the declaration, that an etticient national government 
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
Virginia, inviting the other States to apjioint commis- 
sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
this subject. Five States only were represented. The 
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
by Mr. Madison, urgmg all the States to send their 
delegates to Pliiladelphia, in May, 1787, to draft 
a Constitution tor the United States, to take the place 
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
the time apix)inted. F,very State but Rhode Island 
was represented, tieorge Washington was chosen 
president of the convention ; and the (iresent Consti- 
tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
and the pen of James Madison. 

The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was 
to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
States, with but little [wwer at home and little respect 
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by tlie conven- 
tion to draw up an address to the people of the Lhiited 
States, exix)unding the principles of the Constitution, 
and urging its adoption. There was great opixjsition 
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
went into effect in 1789. 

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
avowed leader of the Republican partv. While in 
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a 
young widow of remarkable ix)wer of fascination, 
whom he married. She was in person and character 
queenly, and probably no l.ndy has thus far occupied 
so prominent a position in the very peculiar society 
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr. Madison served as Secretary- ot State under 
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration 
was chosen President. \x this time the encroach- 
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. 



British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and 

our flag was e.xiwsed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring 
in his disi»sition, war had no charms for him. But the 
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
boil, even now, to think of an .American sliip brought 
to, u[x)n the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
designate as British subjects ; orders them down the 
ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
battles of England. This right of search and im- 
pressment, no efforts of our Ciovernment could induce 
the British cabinet to relinquish. 

On the 1 8th of June. 1S12, President Madison gave 
his approval to an act of Congress declaring war 
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
of March, 1S13, w'as re-elected by a large m.-ijority, 
and entered ui>on his second term of office. This is 
not the place to describe the various adventures of 
this war on the land and on the water. Our infant 
navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- 
pling with the most formidable power which ever 
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
by the appearance of a British fleet, early in February, 
1813, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
coast of the LTnited States under blockade. 

The Emperor of Russia offered his services as nie 
ditator. -America accepted ; England refused. .4 Brit- 
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
of the Patu.vet River, near its entrance into Ches.a- 
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- 
burg, upon Washington. 

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
at Kladensburg echoed through the streets of the 
metropolis. The whole population fled from the city. 
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
House, with her carriage dr.awn up at the door to 
aw.iit his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed, 
and he could not go back without danger of being 
captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
Washington were in flames. 

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
Feb. 13, 18 15, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of 
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
son died July 12, 1849. 






^ 



A 



V 

< 



r 



K^^^S^^ 



^^^^^ 



-vs 



;t>A 



^^x 



■Nx^ 






y 




- -A-- 




/^-^ 



FIFTH PRESIDENT. 



^^^^^^mM, 





PEQES n]OI?^OE. 



""^W^P^T^e^ 





AMES MONROE, the fifth 
residentof The United States, 
i^^was born in Westmoreland Co., 
Va., April 28, 1758. His early 
, .^ ^ life was passed at the place of 
U"^.-'--^./ nativity. His ancestors had for 
-/'lv,_L^ many years resided in the prov- 
ince in which he was born. When, 
at 17 years of age, in the process 
)Si hi ^ of completing his education at 
}^pM ^\ illiam and Mary College, the Co- 
lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 




delphia to deliberate u[K)n the un- 
just and manifold oppressions of 
Great Britian, declared the separa- 
tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
probable that he would have been one of the signers 
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
school and enlisted among the patriots. 

He joined the army when ever\'thing looked hope- 
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring 
in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 

f> tending with an enemy whom they had been taught 
I to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
jwlitical emancipation. The young cadet joined the 
v-- ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country, 
^ with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 



for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and \\'hite 
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled 
before its foes through New Jersey. In four months 
after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
ing ujx)n the enemy he received a wound in the left 
shoulder. 

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was jjro- 
moted a captain of infantry; and, having recovered 
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an 
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- 
paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy- 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon 
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag ; 
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun- 
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 

In 1782, he was elected from King George county, 
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by that 
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
at this early period displayed some of that ability 
and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards 
employed with unremitting energy for the public good, 

m>^-^ — ^^^^ ^i 






Z< 






r 



'\: 



t 



36 



^ 



JAMES MONROE. 



4^^K^' 






•■^ 



^ 



i 



^ 



A 



:-<-? 



V 



^ 



he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
the Congress of the United States. 

DeeplylisMr. Monroe felt the imperfections of the old 
Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
thinking, with many others of the Republican parly, 
that it gave too much iX)Wcr to tlie Central Government, 
and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition 
secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member 
of the United States Senate ; which office he held for 
four years. Ever)- month the line of distinction be- 
tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
the Federal and the Republican, was growing more 
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
arated them were, that the Republican party was in 
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
strict construction of tlie Constitution as to give the 
Central Government as little power, and the State 
Governments as much [wwer. as the Constitution would 
warrant. The Federalists symjiathized with England, 
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
stitution, which would give as much jxjwer to the 
Central Crovernment as that document could possibly 
authorize. 

The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
lames Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- 
bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- 
nounced as almost a demon. 

Washington was then President. England had es- 
poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- 
ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending jKiwers. France had helped 
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
of Europe were now combined to prevent the French 
froni escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
than that which we had endured. Col. Monroe, more 
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in 
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres- 
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
by apiiointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
nouncing the {X)licy of the Government, as the minister 
of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. 
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 



Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- 
roe w'as elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
office for three years. He was again sent to France to 
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
the vast territor)' then known as the Province of 
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
tained from Spain. Their united efibrts were suc- 
cessful. For the comparatively small svmi of fifteen 
millions of dollars, the entire territorj' of Orleans and 
district of Louisiana were added to the L'nited States. 
This was probably the largest transfer of real estate 
which was ever made in all the history of the world 

From F'rance Mr. Monroe w^ent to England to ob- 
tain from that countrj- some recognition of out- 
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- 
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
land on the same mission, but could receive no 
redress. He returned to his home and was again 
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
to accept the jwsition of Secretary of State under 
Madison. While in this office w-ar w-ith England was 
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
these trying times, the duties of the War Department 
were also put uix)n him. He was truly the armor- 
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. LTjwn the return of 
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
tinued in the office of Secretar>- of State until the ex- 
\)iration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec- 
tion held the pres'ious autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
been chosen President with but little opixjsilion, and 
\\[x>n March 4, 1S17, was inaugurated. Four years 
later he was elected for a second term. 

.Vmong the important measures of his Presidency 
were the cession of Florida to the United States; the 
Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine."' 

This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that 
time the United States had recognized the independ- 
ence of the South American states, and did not wish 
to have European powers longer attempting to sub- 
due jwrtions of the .\merican Continent. The doctrine 
is as follows: "'That we should consider any attempt 
on the part of Eurojiean powers to extend their sys- 
tem to any jKirtion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
view any interjxjsition for the purjwse of oppressing 
or controlling American governments or provinces in 
any other light than as a manifestation by European 
ix)wers of an unfriendly disj^sition toward the l'nited 
States." This doctrine immediately affected the course 
of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
sentiment of the United States. 

At the end of his second tenn Mr. Monroe retired 
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until iSjio. 
when he went to New Vork to live with his son-in- 
law. In that city he died,on the 4th of July, 1S31. 



V 



A 



!^: 






f 



-^^^ 



<myM^>^ 



•«§?: 



V 



^ 



W 

^•■j 







J, oL. e/htc/rrx^ 



8«^ 



.^ik. 



SIXTH PRESIDENT. 



-^®t?^ 



'^^®\Wii 



39 





/>\ \> V^3 



Wi^ Qnii]6Y ^D^n]s. 



!<SiS«^K-*S;g^! 






OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
sixth President of the United 
States, was born in the rural 
home of his honored father, 
Jolm Adams, in Quincy, Mass., 
on the I uh cf July, 1767. His 
mother, a woman of exahed 
worth, watched over his childhood 
during the ahiiost constant ab- 
sence of his father. When but 
eight years of age, he stood with 
his mother on an eminence, listen- 
iig to the booming of the great bat- 
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
upon the smoke and flames billow- 
ing up from the conflagration of 
Charlestown. 

When but eleven years old he 
took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
to sail with his father for Europe, 
through a fleet of hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where 
his father was associated with Franklin, and Lee as 
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
the notice of these distinguislied men, and he received 
from them flattering marks of attention. 

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
John Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he 
applied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
to study; then accompained his father to Holland, 
where he entered, first a school in .\msterdani, then 
the University at Leyden. About a year from this 
time, in 1781, when the manly boy was but fourteen 
JoN years of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
I ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 

f* In this school of incessant labor and of enobling 

culture he sftent fourteen months, and then returned 
to Holland through .Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the 
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
V,^ his studies, under a priv.Tte tutor, at Hague. Thence, 




in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father to 
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
with the most distinguished men on the Continent; 
examining architectural remains, galleries of paintings, 
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
became associated with the most illustrious men of 
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
themes which can engross the human mind. After 
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and 
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world, 
and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive; 
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
ferred to return to America to complete his education 
in an American college. He wished then to study 
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
able to obtain an independent support. 

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty, 
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney, 
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
Great Britian. After thus spending a fortnight in 
London, he proceeded to the Hague. 

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal as 
minister i)lenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal, 
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
directing him to the court of Berlin, but requesting 
him to remain in London until he should receive his 
instructions. \\hile waiting he was mairied to an 
American lady to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter 
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in London; 
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- 
lilishment which eminently fitted her to move in the 
elevated sphere for which she was destined. 



(^ 



^ 



^: 



C: 



1 

if 



^■) ^ t | '' 



-'^^^^ — ^^-^^Dll>:i]Dv>^ 



-^ 



l^t^ 




l^/^^>)«^#^- 




-2«^fj^ r^-7<M :< n tlf>r 



-4^^5f(®Vi^ 






/C^TV^ QUINCY ADAMS. 



J 



) 



:<^ 



^ 



I 



He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797; 
where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful- 
filled all the purposes of his mission, he solicited his 
recall. 

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
the Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his 
ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
among the most prominent and influential members 
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon 
these points, and no one more resolved to present 
a firm resistance. 

In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
idential chair, and he immediately nominated John 
Quincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
at Boston, in August, 1809. 

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to 
the climate and astronomical observations ; while he 
kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
All through life the Bible constituted an important 
part of his studies. It was his rule to read five 
chapters every day. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr. 
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he 
sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. On the 
i8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary 
of State. 

Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second 
term of office, new candidates began to be presented 
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought 
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
William H. Crawford, forty-one ; Henry Clay, thirty- 
■^even. As there was no choice by the people, tlie 
question went to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
he was elected. 

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
the past history of our country than the abuse which 




was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per- 
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
lously and outrageously assailed. 

Mr. Adams was, to a very remaricable degree, ab- 
stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in 
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
own fire and applying himself to work in his library 
often long before dawn. 

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew 
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
ixjrtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
" the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to 
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The 
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
in Its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in 
presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he 
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, 
with expulsion from the House, with assassination; 
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
triumph was complete. 

It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before 
he slept, the pra}er which his mother taught him in 
his infant years. 

On the 2 1 St of February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by jiaraly- 
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
said " This is Ike end of earth ;"\.\\t\\ after a moment's 
pause he added, " I a>/i eonteitt" These were the 
last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent." 



S)J 



^ 



A \. 









i 



F 



r 






^!®|?^^ 





# 




y 



^2u^^t^ cri^'^^e^ 




T2*^-<v 



rZLVr^ P£ESIJj£XT- 



43 S 



^ 




1 



AX D R E ir J A C IvS 




n 




:w TACKSOX. :ie 

~:^^ideiii of the 

- nWS, ns ban) is 

X. C 

a iievdajs 



:>£ -ler sex :>m5 



5 bDr:±- After a loa^ iDi>ss 



A->dTg»" ■ 



■ _ be 

— , X. C. He. hofwever. 



> 



K 






* n- 






- err 



V 



3<~ Xordi Caioima. ol 

— : Tbis involved 

i fHwgeis of 

rw teas. 






toa 






: jmr sara^i. 



s 



Oidae^ _^_ :: _ : _ 
a pi II irf mai; i 
skeduadessboy. 

T^e tvaie diEV Ib ! 
blow at sbe head of tbe h.lt i fi.s yoog jHis i wrt 
Aadiev laBed bb land, sad tbcs mm a w a d two fen- 
falgasftes,— fMeoaShekadaadtkeaikeripaB tke 
bead. The ofiterikaa tamed to Us baaker Kober: 
««ftthesaMe '^'^'^^ Qe also irfased. aac t- 
cdraed ablov faoH &e bBe»-e%3d sdbR, vted : 
i:adbled iM. aid lAicb pnfadUf^ sooB afie: r: 



ereTTtaa^ bat Andiev 

: - - - - r - :Hws kad ao Oc~. • 

- lip Knife. 

- ji, Hr. Jacisaawas 

.'- -^ ifc.'isiJf dJmwjtad fwam her ianiiT fai^nvd. 

Greir: vas Ae smpnseof ba&|Biii^t«D;^Rislatec, 

: jMfcinasrfiiiefeoioe had jast been 

;._.- bf the fist bisinDd. TheBaimge 

: ZT was pf iliMMt'd a second tBae,bittlheoocaf- 

; rsed bj-hs enpaaps to bob^ Mz. 

: - ae aodsd hand at hb paifes- 
:' T'Tie or iHae dadb on kuid, 

■ rjed DiciessoB. was escec- 






at R- 



Tacfe: 



"en 
Jie 

z eie«<eB 
-f^p^ites. 




-^<:^ 



-fw Jack- 

-=ehe 

1 iis 







zJ&K ^V<^llIl^Dll>i>-re' 7^& ^ ^ #@^$<s^^^ , 



ANDRE ]V JACKSON. 



i^ 



a^ 






V 



^^ 



'Q^ 



I 



sessions, — a distance of about eight hundred miles. 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. 
Jackson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose 
second term of office was then expiring, delivered his 
last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
did not approve of the address, and was one of the 
twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to 
say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been 
" wise, firm and patriotic." 

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
of his State, which position he held for six years. 

When the war of 18 12 with Great Britian com- 
menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. 
Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was 
an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
ferred upon him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
offered his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops 
were assembled at Nashville. 

As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
tack upon New Orleans, where Gen. Wilkinson was 
in command, lie was ordered to descend the river 
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The 
expedition reached Natchez; and afteradelay of sev- 
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
the men were ordered back to their homes. But the 
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
golden opinions ; and he became the most popular 
man in the State. It was in this expedition that his 
toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory." 

Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, 
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
lingering upon a bed of suffering news came that the 
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
tlers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
army to rendezvous at FayettesviUe, Alabama. 

The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on 
one of the bends of the Tallapoosa River, near the cen- 
ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
With an army of two thousand men, Gen. Jackson 
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or 
Horse-shoe, on the 37th of March. 1814. The bend 



of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of 
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow 
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast- 
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 

The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in. the morn- 
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
rios were killed A few probably, in the night, swam 
the river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
ix)wer of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter, 
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
of the bands caine to the camp, begging for peace. 

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
was appointed major-general. 

Late in August, with an army of two thousand 
men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to 
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed 
a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, 
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious 
assault. The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 

Garrisoning Molnle, where he had taken his little 
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, 
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
won a signal victory over the British army of about 
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. 

The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, 
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, 
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he 
assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
her death he never recovered. 

His administration was one of the most memorable 
in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, 
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
enemies or warmer friends. ,'\t the expiration of his 
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. 



I 









t 



I 




^I1P^DD>> 








/7 ^ 7^zf(^ ^^ /3^^^ <<^ 



^}S^: 



T<^DD>:DDr>T- 



-4^^^(^-= 



7^ 



EIGHTH PRESIDEXT. 



47 



^^-Vf^l 





^■p:^Vr^^I>^^5^5M) 



m^lRTID Y;-?!! BUREl). ^- 



^v^' 





I 

i 



iCt^JVOG-^^fvs) 



.#» 



i?^ 



; "^ 




^ ' ARTIN VAX BUREN", the 

eighth President of the 

United States, was born at 

Kinderhook, N". Y., Dec 5, 

17S2. He died at the same 

place, July 24, 1S62. His 

body rests in the cemetery 

at Kinderhook. Above it is 

.^^^K, ~ pliin granite shaft nfteen feet 

^A^ high, bearing a simple inscription 

K about half way up on one face. 

V The lot is unfenced. unbordered 

or unbounded by shrub or flower. 

There b but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
signal victories, his da)-s passed uneventful in those 
incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
ligence and e-\emplary piety. 

He was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
usual acrivity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
age of founeen, he had finished his academic studies 
in his native village, and commenced the study of 
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven 
years of study in a law-office were required of him 
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
a lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After 
spending six years in an office in his native village. 



he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his 
studies for the seventh year. 

In 1S03, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of 
age, commenced the practice of law in his native \-il- 
lage. The great conflict lietneen the Federal and 
Republican part)- was then at its height. Mr. Van 
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had, 
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the 
many discussions which had been carried on in his 
fathers hoteL He was in cordial svmpathy with 
JeflFerson, and eamesdy and eloquendy espoused the 
cause of State Rights ; though at that time the Fed- 
eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
and State. 

His success and increasing ruputation led him, 
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, the 
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years, 
constandy gaining strength by contending in the 
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
the bar of his State. 

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson. Mr. 
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short 
years she sank into the grave, the \-ictim of consump- 
tion, leaN-ing her husband and four sons to weep over 
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
an earnest, successftil. assiduous lawyer. The record 
of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
In tSi 2. when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to 
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1S15, he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
to Albany, the capital of the State. 

AMiile he was acknowledged as one of the most 
prominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 



A 









f 






s«s**— • 



■^*^^ — ^^-D D :-v-: Diii>A 



■^^€»^ 



«g 3 A g^^^ 



-■?5 



% 



i^ 






■^2^^ 



T 



<^:i]ii>^nnr>v 



MARTIN VAN BUR EN. 



> 

A 






V 

V 



f 



the moral courage to avow that true democracy did 
not require that " universal suffrage" which admits 
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
governing the State. In true consistency with his 
democratic principles, he contended that, while the 
path leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
to ever)- man without distinction, no one should be 
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
and some property interests in the welfare of the 
State. 

In 182 1 he was elected a member of the United 
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
native State. His course in this convention secured 
the approval of men of all parties. No one could 
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
interests of all classes in the community. In the 
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. 

In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the 
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
the Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
termined opposer of the .\dministration, adopting the 
"State Rights" view in opposition to what was 
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. 

Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Govemorof 
the State of Xew York, and accordingly resigned his 
seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. 
Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether 
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
garded throughout the United States as one of the 
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
It was supposed that no one knew so well as he how 
to touch the secret springs of action; how to pull all 
the wires to put his machinery in motion ; and how to 
organize a political army which would, secretly and 
stealthily accomplish the most gigantic results. By 
these ix)wers it is said that he outv.atted Mr. Adams, 
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
few thought then could be accomplished. 

When Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
api)ointed Mr. Van Buren Secretarj' of State. This 
position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
appointed Minister to England, where he went the 
same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned 




home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice 
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
Senate which had refused to confimi his nomination 
as ambassador. 

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- 
ite; and this, probably more than any other cause, 
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu- 
tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
Jackson as President of the United States. He was 
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred 
upon him the jxjwer to appoint a successor." 

His administration was filled with exciting events. 
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in- 
volve this country in war with England, the agitation 
of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- 
cial panic which spread over the country, all were 
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
tributed to the management of the Democratic party, 
and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
failed of re-election. 

With the exception of being nominated for the 
Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, 
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly uiX)n his estate until 
his death. 

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
competence for his declining years. His unblemished 
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he 
had occupied in the government of our countr)-, se- 
cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald^ 
he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics 
of the countn,-. From this time until his death, on 
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
culture and of wealth ; enjoying in a healthy old 
age, probably far more happiness than he had before 
experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life. 



>V 



C^' 



^ 






V 



r^ 






^ T ^^ *~ 



_:^. 



':^!^^ 



■^mnm^>^^ — ^^^ 








P-- 




s^-f>-- 



y^ ^^a^^^^^^'^^ 






ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
SON, the ninth President ol 
the Linited States, was liorn 
at Bcrkele) , Va., Feb. 9, 1773. 
His tathei, Benjamin Harri- 
son, was in comparatively op- 
ulent circumstances, and was 
one of the most distinguished 
men of his day. He was an 
intimate friend of George 
Washington, was early elected 
a member of the Continental 
Congress, and was conspicuous 
among the patriots of Virginia in 
resisting the encroachments of the 
British crown. In the celebrated 
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
rison and John Hancock were 
both candidates for the office of 
speaker. 

Mr Harrison was subsequently 
chosen Ciovernor of Virginia, and 
was twice re-elected. His son, 
I William Henry, of course enjoyed 

in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
with honor soon after the death of his father. He 
then repaired to Philadeliihia to study medicine under 
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he 
abandoned his medical studies and entered the army, 
having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 



dent Washington. He was then but rg years old. 
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
position. 

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
was divided liy Congress into two portions. The 
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced 
in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory 
north-wesl of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap- 
ixjinted by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He 
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
rapidly increasing white population. The abilitv and 
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
times appointed to this office — first by John .Adams, 
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
dent Madison. 

\Vhenhe began his adminstration there were but 
three white settlementsin that almost boundless region, 
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the 
tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements 
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at 
Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French 
settlement. 

The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison 
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. About 



I 



o) 



^r#*- 



^si^^ @^A<^|j||^:,tJtl^^^a^^^ is^^^n. 



-^#^^5^(®>| 





g«*- 



■T^v4:Bfl^flll^>? 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



<h 






'<) 



the year 1806, two extraordinary mer, twin brothers, 
of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. One of 
these was called Tccumseh, or " The Crouching 
Panther;" the other, Olliwaclieca, or "The Prophet. " 
TecLimseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man 
of great sagacity, far-reaching foresights and indomit- 
able perseverance in any enterprise m which lie might 
engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, 
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was 
anorator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
they dwelt. 

But the Prophet was not merely anorator: he was, 
in the suiierstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
by the Great Spirit. 

Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
October 28, 1812, his army began its march. When 
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was 
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
short conference, arrangements were made for a meet- 
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. 

But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- 
tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
campment, he took every precaution against surprise. 
His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept 
upon their arms. 

The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
loaded musket liy his side.and his bayonet fixed. The 
wakeful Governor, lietween three and four o'clock in 
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
ble, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
the desperation which superstition and passion most 
highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the 
little army. The savages had been amply provided 
with guns and ammunition liy the English. Their 
war-whoop was accompained liy a shower of bullets. 

The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
ous yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubtir.g a 
speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing he- 
fore them, and completely routing the foe. 





^^^^ 



r^T 



<m^ 



Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
to the utmost. The British descending from theCan- 
adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but 
with their savage allies, rusliing like wolves from the 
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, binn- 
ing, plundering, scaljjing, torturing, the wide frontier 
was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
Under these despairing circumstances. Gov. Harrison 
was appointed i)y President Madison commander-in- 
chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 

It would be difficidt to place a man in a situation 
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but 
(ieneral Harrison was found equal to the position, 
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re- 
sponsibilities. 

He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing 
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British officers, 
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
before the fire, without bread or salt. 

In 1 8 16, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of 
the National House of Representatives, to represent 
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested 
the attention of all the members. 

In 1819, Harrison was elected to tlie Senate of 
Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors 
of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
same year he was chosen to the I'nited States Senate. 

In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his 
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
by the Whigs, with John Tyler for the Vice Presidency. 
The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave 
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
his triumph was signal. 

The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
brilliant with which anv President had ever been 
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country 
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died on the 4th of April; just one month after 
his inauguration as President of the United States. 






A 











I 



a 



»^ 



-3f5^V 






I^t^- 



<■» > » ' 



y 




^T¥L 







T 

V 







V 



K^ 






■ 






HX TYLER. lie a-Hh 

Co. Va^ MjuKk 29. i79(v He 
«»£ the farnxed cUd of af- 
Aitc M ut and M^ sodbl po- 
silnn. At t^ eiriy a^e ol 
twehre. loin emieKd WaibM 
aad ^iarr CoB^fe aad god- 
3ui»d vKk ^»ck koaor viKa 
batagi g aa ccai yeaisqid. Aices- 
he devoted yi»- 
_ xsadiBKT o the 
of lav. ponlif «iA hib 
.xad pis^with FidM»ri 




^ 
^ 



not 



KaBdoiph.oneol the moss <ii3Db- 
gashed lawvss oe Vl^taa. 

Ai iMi B Ut-L-i a ye^is nf agt, ^ 

comaeaced ihe pracike of la«. 

Hs sacoKS wxs apod aad ^aoe- 

•sai^. b j$ Slid dtu duee 

.-i«fe had was. iia^sed ere thoe 

«v£s scuoehr a caee o* ike dttcfc- 

e: of ihe oont m which he wxs 

WhcD b«E rveatr-iMe veus of .^e. he 

«3s afasKt vKunocdtr dfected ■» a seat ia t&e Sfcue 

LegElajDBe. He coeaected hiiKelf nh ike IXano- 

cranc parn^. — ^)t advocaaed ^he Measwes of 

"^ jkfeisoK ar::- _;_:::- For five SMOc^sh^ Tcais he 

wasclectBd loihe LepsSaisK;. leoars^ -aesi^r :^ 
saoMMoi^ TDK or hts aG<- ' 

WWoiInc tweMn^'SixTe—: :. .^^ he was dened 
a 1 ■?>! I of Co^ge^ Heie he acBed caiBSsH- aiad 
Aly»iAthe DriyTOiir panr. ojipoeang a iwfinwal 
>. h^L BBamal iMj—m m\ nt br t^ Geoexsl Goveim- 






:^>^^ 



-=^*^^ 



.- V 



MCK. a pMiiecirne canC and adxtocanag a snia ooo- 
aUMU B U M of die GoiasncaiKn, ajad the nost cxie£al 
T^fawse <»rer Scase lights. Hk labois ia CoDgiess 
««K so aidaoss that hefixe the cfase of his secoMl 
tenaheiiauid s Dee:'-- -^'sis^ juad leobe » hts 

esxaee ia Ckades-dti ^-cnrii hib beakh. He, 

ho«ev>er, soob after coetsessid to takae h«s seat ia the 
State Le^i^ame. where his iadaence was pa wetfi J 
in fownring jieblac woiks of gteat stStr. With a 
repottatiaM thxs ciassaadr iacreass^. he was chosee 
br a veiT lariie ^AiicxitT of xces;. Goveioor of las 
aaiire Ssue. His nlwiiii iimiwi was ^nallr a soc- 
oesakloae. Hk mpdbtin- aecaied ^ le-deaaon. 

Joha Kiwdnlpk. a brSKaBt. enaiic. halikiaxed 
laan. dkes lepresencsd Vusiaxa ia the S^iate of 1^ 
Uoiaed Scales. A pcnaoa of the Bkemociazic piarnr 
was dbpfeased widt Mr. Raadolph's wavwud coeise. 
and baoE^K kxwaid John TTkr ^ te opponewt, 
o»a(feti^ ya the otdr saaia Vn^xacaof safideM 
popdbikr s> sacceed agaiast tke ie-j--a— •e- . — ;^«Tr « 
Rnaanhf Mx. T^fer wasthe vktc- 

la aoondaace w^ hb prnfesicr - ^ bjs 

seat ia the Seaate. he joined the lar ■ - 70s- 

tiaau He opposed die taiif; he s . ::st and 

ToiedagaiB3tti»elitaak.£S ^ S3ie<::>- 

3ai^r opposed all tessriv - . ;• . lesst- 

iag all pnfec^ of intetaal iaapKmenegtts b^ the Gea- 
eral Gov^xaoMBt. aad avowed his snapathr wi^ Ms. 
Calhceas new of aaJKcanoa: hededared t^ai Gea. 
Jaefcaoa, b*r kts oppoawioa ao the aalS&exs, had 
^Ehaiadcaed she piSBdples of tbe Deaaociadc paKr. 
S jch WIS Mi Tjr^er s leootd is Co^wss. — a lecoHi 
dosdaace wkh the piwiptes which he 
- i-powed. 

Kecaiaiag ao Vii^i^^ be jesaaied Iks' rnrtire of 
his paofesaoak. There wis i -Tfe ^- :>« T^sEOcriik 






^ 



'Or 



V 



> 

4 



(^ 






i 




■^^7^nm^i>t^ 



-#^5(^V,^^; 



JOHAT TYLER. 



party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli- 
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was 
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
for the better education of his children ; and he again 
took his scat in the Legislature of Virginia. 

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
1839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- 
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment ot 
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
thy with the Whig jiarty in the Noith : but the Vice 
President has but very little power in the Govern- 
ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
Democratic Vice President were chosen. 

In 1 84 1, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. In one short month from 
that time. President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
thus found himself, to his own surprise and that of 
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Fyler 
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
une.vpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
office. He was placed in a position of exceeding 
delicacy and difficulty. All his longlife he had been 
opposed to the main principles of the party which had 
brought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
sistent, honest man, with an unblemished record. 
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should 
he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, 
on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
mony with himself, and which would op|)Ose all those 
views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
selected to retain their seats. He reccommended a 
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
bless us. 

The Whigs carried through Congress a hill for the 
incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it witli 
his veto. He suggested, however, that he would 



approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he 
proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
privately submitted to iiim. He gave it his approval. 
It "A-as passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
ure [)y a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
touched the pride of the President. 

The opposition now exultingly received the Presi- 
dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
cabinet, excejiting Mr. Webster, resigned. The \Vhigs 
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
United States, proclaiming tliat all iwlitical alliance 
between the Whigs and President Tyler were at 
an end. 

Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and 
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs 
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
however, he brought himseli into sympathy with his 
old friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his term, 
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
harassments of office, tothe regret of neither party, and 
probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife, 
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, 
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
many i)ersonal and intellectual accomplishments. 

The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- 
est, Charles-city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
his manners, richly furnished with information from 
books and experience in the world, and jxissessing 
brilliant powers of conversation, his fr.mily circle was 
the scene of unusual attractions. AVitli suffic-ient 
moans for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he 
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
storms of civil war which his own principles and 
policy had helped to introduce. 

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State- 
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
houn had inaugurated. President Tyler renounced his 
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by 
force of arms, the Government over which he had 
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 



I 



A 



^. 



V 



( 



r 




jLim 






d2/^«-*-<-<-C^ *^ 




:o 



?• 

/v 



V 

«>^» 



V 






;#< 



.^^C^^:: — 6V4?tlti:t:onr>v 






-i^^C(®vM 



^'Z^' VENTH PRESIDENT. 






AMES Hv. PDIK 







v^ 












'■f-~ 



ANtES K. POLK, the eleventh 



?n:' 



fiia President of the United States, 
s born in Mecklenburg Co., 
C.,Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
ents were Samuel and Jane 
(Knox) Polk, the former a son 
of Col. Thomas Polk, who located 
at the above place, as one of the 
first pioneers, in 1735. 

In the year 1S06, with his wife 
and cliildren, and soon after fol- 
lowed by most of the members of 
tlie Polk farnly, Samiitl Polk emi- 
grated some two or three hundred 
miles farther west, to the rich valley 
of the Duck River. Here in the 
midst of the wilderness, in a region 
which was subsequently called Mau- 
ry Co., they reared their log huls, 
and established their homes. In the 
hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
derness, James K. Polk spent the 
early years of his childhood and 
youth. His father, adding the pur- 
suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
gradually increased in wealth until 
he became one of the leading men of the region. His 
mother was a superior woman, of strong common 
'^ sense and earnest piety. 

Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
,: reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
^^ a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
MV him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his 



father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 



sedentary life, got a situation for him behind tlie 
counter, hojjing to fit him for commercial pursuits. 

This was to James a bitter disapixjintment. He 
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
arrangements for him to jirosecute his studies. Soon 
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. ^Vith 
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of 
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
service. 

He graduated in 1S18, witli tlie highest honors, be- 
ing deemed the best scholar of his cbss, both in 
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this 
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he 
had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here iMr. Polk 
renewed his acquaintance with .Andrew Jackson, who 
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
miles from Nashville. They had probably been 
slightly acquainted before. 

Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican, 
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi- 
cal faith. He was a jxipular public sjieaker, and was 
constantly called u]X)n to address the meetings of his 
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
he was popularly called the Naiwleon of the stump. 
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and 



(^! 



^ 



c^: 



0) 



^' 



^¥^(s^J^ 



6o 



JAMES K. POLK. 



rr 



-*%?@s 






§§ 



^) 



courteous in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
nature in the jo) s and griefs of others which ever gave 
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
altogether worthy of him, — a lady of beauty and cul- 
ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
tinued ill that office. He then voluntaril)- withdrew, 
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever 
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any 
ambitious rhetorical display. 

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- 
formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
passed by the House as he withdrew on tlie 4th of 
March, 1839. 

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of Octo- 
ber, 1839, look the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
3d of March, approving of tlie annexation of Texas to 
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
to be an act hostile to Mexico. 

In his first message. President Polk urged that 
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
other States. In the meantime. Gen. Taylor was sent 



Sl'\®))«^#- 



A<^I1!1 



with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was 
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly 
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
where he erected batteries which commanded the 
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on 
the western banks. 

The anticipated collision soon took place, and war 
was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The 
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
called one of "observation," then of '"occupation," 
then of " invasion, "was sent forward to Monterey. The 
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
It v.'as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
that the war was brought on. 

' To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our liands. 
We now consented to peace upon the condition that 
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
ifornia. Tins new demand embraced, exclusive of 
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This 
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 

On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
office, having served one term. The next day was 
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in tlie 
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
and his health was good \Vith an ample fortune, 
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long vears 
of tranquility and happiness were before him. But the 
cholera — that fearful scourge — was then sweeping up 
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
and died on the 15th of June, 1S49, in the fifty-fourth 
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. 



v^ 



i 

0) 



i 




TWELFTH PRESIDENT. 



63 



f 



A 






^ 






^ 

/ 











ACHARV TAYLOR, iwcltih 
President of the United States, 
was born on tiie 24111 of Nov., 
1784, in ( )range Co., Va. His 
father, Colonel Taylor, was 
Yy a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
'■] tinguished [latriot and soldier of 
the Revolution. When Zathary 
was an infant, his father with his 
wife and two children, emigrated 
to Kentuck) , where he settled in 
the pathless wilderness, a few 
miles from Louisville. In this front- 
ier home, away from civilization and 
all its refinements, young Zachary 
could enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
tages. When six years ot age he attended a common 
school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight 
the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
- In 1 80S, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
from one of the first families of Maryland. 

Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
land, in 18 1 2, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
ness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to Tippecanoe. 
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
led by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 



m 



?^ 



^i&s- 



companyol intantry numbenn.n fifty men, many of 
whom were sick. 

Early in the autumn of 181 j, the Indians, stealthily, 
and in large numbers, moved ujwn the fort. Their 
approach was first indicated by the murder of two 
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
made every possible preparation to meet the antici- 
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
forty painted and plimied savages came to the fort, 
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk 
with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
them at a distance. 

The sun went down ; the savages disappeared , the 
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips 
in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that 
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can 
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
ceeded in setting lire to one of the block-houses- 
Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, 
and gnashing their teeth witli rage, retired. Capt. 
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
rank of major by brevet. 

Until the close of the war, MajorTaylor was placed 
in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 



% 








ZACHARY TAYLOR. 






> 




tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful 
years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of 
colonel. In the Black-Hawk war, which resulted in 
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 

For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in 
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
employments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
In the year 1S36, he was sent to Florida to com])el 
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
had promised they should do. Tiie services rendered 
here secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
to the rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon 
after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- 
mand of the United States troops in Florida. 

After two years of such wearisome employment 
amidst the everglades of the peninsula, Gen. Taylor 
obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
and was stationed over the Department of the South- 
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headcpiarters 
at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
imposed upon him. 

In 1846, (jen. T;iylor was sent to guard the land 
between the Nueces and Rio Grande, tlie latter river 
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico 
was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
Palma, Gen. Taylor won Ijrilliant victories over the 
Mexicans. The rank of major-general by isrevet 
was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
forces much larger than he commanded. 

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
\.\\^ sohriquet of "Old Rougli and Ready.' 

The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista 
spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's li|)s. The 
Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
ful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- 
lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
nouncement, and for a time would not listen toit; de- 
claring that he was not at all qualified for such an 
office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, 
for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
who had been long rears in the iniblic service found 
their claims set aside in behalf of one whose name 




had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." 

Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine 
writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
pared such few communications as it was needful 
should be presented to the public. Thepoi)ularity of 
the successful warrior swe[jt the land. He was tri- 
umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, — 
Gen. Cass and Kx-President Martin Van Buren. 
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
old man found himself in a very uncongenial position, 
and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi- 
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
Indians. 

In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor, 
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little 
over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. 
His last words were, "I am not afraid to die. I am 
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly la- 
mented his death. 

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acipiainted with 
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
description of his character: — " With a good store of 
common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
quence. The frontiers and sm:ill military posts had 
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
a little on one side of his head ; or an officer to leave 
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- 
side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase, 
' touch with a pair of -tongs." 

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a 
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In short, 
few men have ever had a more comfortable, labor- 
saving contempt for learning of every kind." 



% 



^ 



A 



V 



I 

i 



<^lltl^^tlllf>^-^=^ — ^^^^ ^^^^^M^ 







vY'>^;V; 





\ 



M-/^)^^^ 



-^^K @V4itlll^llD>D>v=^'e5 :^^ 



THFRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



> 

1 
1 



^ 



(h 






% > \—^ -Jt- 






I 



MILLARn FILLMORE-'^ 






-5M- 








ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
ty teenth President of the United 
^' States, was born at Summer 
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
the 7th of January, 1800. His 
father was a farmer, and ow- 
ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
cumstances. Of his mother, the 
daughter of Dr. .\biathar Millard, 
of PittsfieUi, Mass., it has been 
said that she possessed an intellect 
of very high order, united with much 
])ersonal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
position, graceful manners and ex- 
quisite sensibilities. She died in 
1831 ; having lived to see her son a 
young man of distinguished prom- 
ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
dignity which he finally attained. 

In consequence of the secluded home and limited 
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
mon schools, ivhich he occasionally attended were 
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ; 
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
Livin<;ston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 




Neai the mill there was a small villiage, where some 



enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
ing. .Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate; 
and the selections which he made were continually 
more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
educated man. 

The young clothier had now attained the age of 
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that 
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
Wood, — who was struck with the prepossessing ap- 
pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- 
ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
r.o friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
so much confidence in him that he kindly ofTered to 
take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
offer was accepted. 

There is in many minds a strange delusion about 
a collegiate education. .\ young man is supposed to 
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
lege. But many a boy loiters through university halls 
and then enters a law office, who is bv no means as 



i 



r^) 



^ 

^ 



-«®§ 



^t§5f 





^^^^ 



(S, 









-e^^ 



^^ 



rr 



-«^ 



|^^(( 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at tire clothing- 
mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
tense mental culture. 

In 1S2J, when twenty-three years of age, he v/as 
admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He tlien 
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or hi fame. 
Here, in the year icS26, he married a lady of great 
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 

His elevation of character, his untiring industiy, 
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to 
enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1.S29, 
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of tlie 
State of New York, as a representative from Erie 
County. Though he had never taken a very active 
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
and lie found himself in a helpless minority in the 
Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parties, 
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
unusual degree the respect of his associates. 

In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
the United States Congress. He entered that troubled 
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
national history. The great conflict respecting the 
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
then raging. 

His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- 
utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re- 
elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe- 
rience as a representative gave him strength and 
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener- 
gies were brought to bear upon the juiblic good. Every 
measure received his impress. 

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
he was elected Comptroller of the State. 



m 



<^ 



Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- p>^ 
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to 
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
waters of tlie Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
j)rocIaiined in tiumpet-tones all over the land. But 
it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. 

Under the influence of these considerations, the 
namesofZachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, 
Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
Fillmore Vice-President, of the LTnited States. 

On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but *- 
about one year and four months after his inaugura- 
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
dent. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which 
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 

Mr. Fillmore had very serious difficulties to contend 
with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
the South; but the pro-slavery party in the Soutli felt 
the inadequacy of all measuresof transient conciliation. 
The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
evitable that the power of the Government should 
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
I'illmore's adminstration, and the Japan Ex[)edition "J/ 
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- 
more, having served one term, retired. 

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that 
his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe 
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 



A 









fe 



T 

Si 




<-^Il!l^Iini>^r^ 






-«e§ 



^^5^_ 










f^,.>>^w >iWj:j-^< 



> 



c^^ 



V 



^ 



e?i^ 




FOURTEENTH FRESIDEAiT. 



-4^^(®^^<^ 





.-^ff,g^jft? 



^FHflNKLIN FIERCE.^ ^C 




^ 



(Aft t.',A;3i" "&&;\S>£i) 





\ 1 






RANKLIN PIERCE, the 
fourteenth President of the 
' L'nited States, was born in 
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
23, 1804. His father was a 
Revolutionary soldier, who, 
with his own strong arm, 
hewed out a liome in the 
wilderness. He was a man 
of inflexible integrity ; of 
strong, though uncultivated 
mind, and an unconipromis- 
Democrat. The mother of 
Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
dent, affectionate, Christian wom- 
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 

Franklin was a very liright and handsome Ijoy, gen- 
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
oved him. His teachers loved him. The neighiwrs 
looked upon him with pride and affection. He was 
by instinct a gentleman; alwaj s speaking kind words, 
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
devotion to books, he was a good scholar ; in body, 
in mind, in affections, a finely-develoi)ed boy. 

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1S20, he 
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me. He was 
one of the most pojiular young men in the college. 
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 



genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
own magnanimous and loving nature. 

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
Woodbury, one of tlie most distinguished lawyers of 
tlie State, and a man of great private worth. The 
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
father's prominence as a public man, and tlie brilliant 
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
he served for four years. The last two years he was 
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
a nieml)er of Congress. Without taking an active 
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, 
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
he was associatad. 

In 1S37, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
he was elected to tlie Senate of the United States; 
taking liis seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
his administration. He was the youngest memberin 
the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane 
Means .Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
station with waich her husband was honoiod. Of the 



A 

• 'V. 






•smf> 



^^k/^^:^^^ 




zJ^^^ ^-VC^D D >: II llf>v^^ 



-4^^^ 



,^.^ 






I 



FRANKLIN PIERCE. 



three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with 
their parents in the grave. 

In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. 
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States ; but 
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the 
same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
He took an important part in this war, proving him- 
self a brave and true soldier. 

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
very frequently taking an active part in political ques- 
tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery 
wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
measures met cordially with his approval; and he 
strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
guished as a " Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
The strong partisans of slaver)' in the South conse- 
quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
safely trust in office to carry out their plans. 

On the 1 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce 
was therefore inaugurated President of the United 
States on the 4lh of March, 1853. 




s^ 



m^\^)¥^k 



His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
country had ever experienced. The controversy be- 
tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its i!^= 
culminating point. It became evident that there was ] 
an " irrepressible conflict " between them, and that ito, 
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
of tlie Union were borne to the North on every South- 
ern breeze. 

Such was the condition of affairs when President 
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
cated those measures of Government which they ap- 
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 

On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
had died, and his only surviving child had been 
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his 
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
alone in the world, without wife or child. 

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
Pierce remained steadfast in tlie principles which he 
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
1869. He was one of the most genial and social of 
men, an honored communicant of the F^piscopal 
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen- 
erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- 
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- 
people were often gladened by his material bounty 



(J^ 



^ 



•o- 



V 



(o) 



mw>^ 



A. 





^Tn^^ (2^'^%,C^^^^^'Z-^^^>i^?j!^ 



t®r 



^2j€^te^ — ev<:iin:<tiD^>r 



-«eg 



FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 




»» 






1 '^'i' gi'^'?'a':^^'ga'5:5itij^'^'^'^'^'^' ''^' J. :> ■ 'i v>Vt^'<^^Ji^S3t»^>^Sir:?.Jt^tg'JPi'-. ■■ •. 'i -. 'i -. 







«<«; 






^ 



te'^i) 



)»» 




AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
teenth President of the United 
Stntcs, was born in a small 
frontier town, at the foot of the 
eastern ridge of the Allegha- 
nies, in Franklin Co., Penn.,on 



1 

S 



r: -s^Xs the 23d ot April, 1791. The place 




where the humble cabin of his 
father stood was called Stony 
Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- 
tains, with towering summits rising 
grandly all around. His father 
was a native of the north of Ireland ; 
a poor man, who had emigrated in 
1783, with little property save his 
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- 
cluded home, where James was born, he remained 
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
advantages. When James was eight years of age, his 
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
^ his son was placed at school, and commenced a 
I course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 

J progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
I entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 

' ^K ^''^'ops'i remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
•' the first scholars in the institution. His application 
' ^ to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 




^«^# 



-5*€^^ 



j^^ 



abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with 
facility. 

In the year 1S09, he graduated with the highest 
honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of 
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
an exuberant flow of .inimal spirits. He immediately 
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was 
but twenty -one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but 
twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate one of the 
judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of 
impeachment. .'X.t the age of thirty it was generally 
admitted that he stood at the he.-id of the bar; and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
crative practice. 

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. 
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
tried some important case. In 1831, he retired 
altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- 
quired an ample fortune. 

Gen. Jackson, uixjn his elevation to the I'residency, 
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
gave satisfaction to all parties. Ujwn his return, in 
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- 
ures proposed by President Jackson, of making repri- 









r^ 



<>unm>^ 




76 



■ev^itm^nDr^r^ 






JAMES BUCHANAN. 



(0 



^ 






sals against France, to enforce the payment of our 
claims against that country ; and defended the course 
of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removal from oftice of those wlio were not the sup- 
porters of iiis administration. Upon this cpiestion he 
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. 
He also, witli voice and vote, advocated expunging 
from tlie journal of the Senate the vole of censure 
against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the 
District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the 
circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United 
States mails. 

As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
cated that they should \>e respectfully received; and 
that tlie reply should be returned, that Congress had 
no power to legislate upon the subject. " Congress," 
said he, "might as well undertake to interfere with 
slavery under a foreign government as in any of tlie 
States where it now e.xists." 

Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
Buchanan jjecame Secretary of State, and as such, 
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed 
territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
the Rio Cirande into that territory was a declaration 
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure tlie 
account of the course our Covernment pursued in tliat 
movement 

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
the party devoted to the perpetuation and extension 
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his 
cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1850, 
which included tlie fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
Buchanan with the mission to England. 

In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
tion nominated ^Ir. Buchanan for tlie Presidency. The 
political conllict was one of the most severe in which 
our country has ever engaged. All the friends of 
slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- 
striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
ceived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 
1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for lUichanan. On 
March 4th, 1S57, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
years were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
ten. His own friends, those with whom he liad been 
allied in political jirinciples and action for years, were 
seeking the destruction of the (Government, that they 
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly lie- 
■wildered. He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 



ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in 
their assumptions. As President of the United States, 
bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws, 
he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
lic. He therefore did nothing. 

The op|)onents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
nominaled Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
in the next Presidential canvass.. The pro-slaverv 
party declared, that if he were elected, and (he con- 
trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
the United States. 

VIr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery 
party was such, that he iiad been willing to offerthem 
far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
South had professed to ask of the North was non- 
intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
operation of the Government to defend and extend 
the institution. 

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
the most pitial)le exhibitions of governmental im- 
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
laws in any .State which h;id withdrawn, or which 
was attempting to withdraw from tlie Union. This 
was not tlie doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
his hand upon his sword-hilt, he exchiimed, " The 
Union must and shall be preserved!" 

South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
three months before the inauguration of President 
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
The reljel flag was raised in Charleston • Fort Sumpter 
was besieged ; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
were seized; our depots of military stores were plun- 
dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were 
appropriated by the rebels. 

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
ness Atlength the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
scepter. 

The administration of President Buchanan was 
certainly the most calamitous our countiy has ex- 
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame, 
that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows 
of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came 
from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's 
lianner should triumph over the flag of the rebellion. 
He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. 






m^ 



( 



(^ 



%7^MM\(<>^ ^^€»^ 





I 



m 



^i^^rt^ 



-^^^^ ^VC:Illl^^HIl^>r 






SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



i^^e^-!^ 



I 



79 



< ABRAHAM > W^^"^ < LINCOLN. > | 



1 



) 




iBRAHAM > ^>^K^ <JJ1 




^^^?' 



\| r.RAHA 
^ sixteciitl' 



\M LINCOLN, tlie 
th rresident of the 
iiiied States, was born in 
lardiii Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
1S09. .\bout the year 17 So, a 
man by the name of .Vbraliani 
Lincobi left \'iiginia with liis 
taniily and rnoved into the then 
wilds of Kentucky. Only two years 
after this emigration, still a young 
man, while working one day in a 
tield, was stealthily approached by 
an Indian and shot dead. His widow 
was left in extreme [wverty with the 
ittle children, three boys and two 
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
boys, was four years of age at his 
father's death. This Thomas was 
the father of Abraham Lincoln, the 
President of the United States 
whose name must henceforth forever be enrolled 
with tlie most [irominent in the annals of our world. 
Of course no record has been kept of the life 
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
the poorest of the [xjor. His home was a wretched 
log -cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
Education he had none; he could never either read 
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
hhiiself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- 
less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
laborer in the fields of others. 

\\'hen twenty-eight years of age he buill a log- 
cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
daughter of anotiier family of ])oor Kentucky emi- 
.^ grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
second child was .\braham Lincoln, the subject of 
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
/ a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
0^ "All that I am, or hope to be," e.xclaims the grate- 
u* ful son "I owe to my angel-mother. 
>- \\hen he was eight years of age, his father sold his 



cabin and small farm, and moved to Indi.ma. Where 
(wo vears later his mother died. 

-■Xbrahum soon became the sciibe of the uneducated 
community around him. He could not have had a 
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts 
into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
books he could obtain were few ; init tliese he read 
and re-read until they were almost committed to 
memory. 

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
ried when a child of but fourteen vears of age, and 
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1S30, 
and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
another log-cabin, .\braham worked diligently at this 
until lie saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
he announced to his father his intention to leave 
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of 
education, and was intensel)' earnest to improve his 
mind to the utmost of his ix)wer. He saw the ruin 
which ardent spirits were causing, and became 
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a dro|i of intoxi- 
cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the 
Lord thy (Jod in vain ;" and a profane expression he 
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
single vice. 

Voung .\braham worked for a time as a hired laborer 
among the fanners. Then he went to Springfield, 
where he was employed in building a large flat-boat. 
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them dowii 
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham I,in- 
coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
great satisfaction to his employers. In this adven- 



*^ 



si/ 



* 



Cf)\ 



^DIl^DDn>- 



-^^m^^m^ 




■^ 



V4^D0^IiBr>r 



-^a'^^ 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



<Af 






V 



^ 



,') 



ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon 
his return tiiey placed a store and mill under liis care. 

In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem, 
His only post-office was his hat. .\11 the letters he 
received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a 
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. 
Stuart, of Springlield, advised him to study law. He 
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of 
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and 
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
His success with the jury was so great that he was 
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 

In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. 
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. 
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
notable part of his history. The issue was on the 
slavery question, and he took the broad ground of 
the Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
test, but won a far higher prize. 

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
on the i6ih ot June, i860. The delegates and 
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
five thousand. An immense building called "The 
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame 
as a statesman had long filled the land, was tlie most 
prominent. It was generally supposed he would be 
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then 
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him: 
and as little did he dream that he was to render services 
to his country, which would fi.x upon him the eyes of 
the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second 
only, if second, to that of W'ashington. 

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
constitutionally elected President of the United States. 
The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good 




and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
higli position. In February, 1S61, Mr. Lincoln started 
for Washington, stop[)ing in all the large cities on his 
way making speeches. The whole journey was froughl 
witii much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
more had arranged, upon his arrival to'' get up a row," 
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
the plol. .A secret and special train was provided to 
take him from Harrist-urg, through Baltimore, at an 
une.xpected liour of the night. The train started at 
half-past ten ; and to ])revent any jiossible communi- 
cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, 
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people. 

In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other 
prominent opponents before the convention he gave 
important positions. 

During no other administration ha\e the duties 
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
the resix)nsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in 
his own strength to cope witli, the difficulties, he 
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
trials, bo'h personal and national. Contrary to his 
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
reliel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
had left Springfield, in 1861, however, j^lans had been 
made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim 
to one of them, April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, 
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
was announced that they would t.e present. Gen. 
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- 
ing, witn his characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
it would be a disappointment if he should fail them, 
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
the plav an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth 
entered the box where the President and family were 
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
next morning at seven o'clock. 

Never before, in the history of the world was a nation 
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. 
Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless 
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
model. His name as the savior of his country will 
live with that of Washington's, its father: his country- 
men being unable to decide which is the greater. 



if. 



f" 



<5 



V 



^^^ 



I- 



-=^^^^ — ^^-^ ^0 a ^ B iii>^^^ 



-«s 



r^ 



t 



m 




■%■ 




'^P?vU^<y^ 




;lM^^/^®))^^ 



■^VC^OQ^in^^-r^ 



ry 



-•4?^^ 



SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT. 






MMMM wmMM^mm^ 











NDREW JOHNSON, seven- 
teenth President of the United 
States. The early life of 
Andrew Johnson contains but 
, the record of poverty, destitu- 

:, 7 tion and friendlessness. He 
7 was born December 29, 1808, 
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
belonging to tlie class of the 
"poor whites " of the South, were 
in such circumstances, that they 
could not confer even the slight- 
est advantages of education upon 
their child. When Andrew was five 
years of age, his father accidentally 
lost his life while heiorically endeavoring to save a 
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the 
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
her own hands. 

He then, having never attended a school one day, 
and being unable either to read or write, was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
r len. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
with the assistance of some of his fellow- workmen, 
learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner. 



pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book, 
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed on- 
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
and recreation to devote such time as he could to 
reading. 

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at 
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos- 
sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
alderman, and in 1830 elected liim mayor, which 
position he held three years. 

He now began to take a lively interest in political 
affairs ; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
He became a very active member of the legislature, 
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van 
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to those 
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much 
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
his reputation. 

In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
elections, held that important post for ten years. In 
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
was re-elected in 1855. In all these resi)onsible posi- 
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abil- 



C); 



') 



s 
^ 



V) 



•sr 



®))?^#- 



■^TN^IIfl^Dnf^A:^ ^^«^^ 




!;My®»^#* 



-cr 



v4>nD^iin^^ 



ry- 



-S8^ 



84 



ANDRF. IV JOHNSON. 



) 
> 



s 



^ 



I 



s._ 



ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
United States Senator. 

Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated 
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
and become merged in a population congenial to 
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
promise measures, the two essential features of whicli 
were, that the white people of the Territories should 
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
the free States of the North should return to the 
South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 

Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin: 
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
ior was the son of a carpenter." 

In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of i860, he 
was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- 
ern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
established the most stringent military rule. His 
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 

1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lmcoln, April 15, 

1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
must be punished ; that the Government will not 
always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not 
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
administration, the history of which is so well known, 
was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent 



oppositiori to, the principles laid down in that speech. 

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- 
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
the beginnirig of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
ure of Office .\ct, articles of impeachment were pre- 
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
months. .\ test article of the impeachment was at 
length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
side would have sustained the impeachment. 

The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
but little regarded. He continued, though impotently, 
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
of Gen. (irant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
in Gree«ville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
politics until 1875. ^" J'^"' -''• '^ft<2r an exciting 
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special 
session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of 
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President 
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
2 A. M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
with every demonstration of respect. 



(51 



^ 






(^^ 




^^nmm> 



A4=i- 





#*'■- 




^ 




d^t^t^O^ 




^)^^#« 



■^V<^tlll^llll^>r 



^>ii 



) 



>j 



EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. 












SSES S. GRANT, the 
hteenth President of the 
^^•- United States, was born on 
the 29th of April, 1822, of 
Christian parents, in a hnnible 
home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
his father moved to George- 
town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
received a common-school edu- 
cation. At the age of seven- 
teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
the Military Academy at West 
Point. Here he was regarded as a 
solid, sensible \oung man of fair abilities, and of 
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis- 
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
Indians. 

The war with Mexico came. Lieut, (jranl was 
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
Resaca de la Palma, liis second battle. .\t the battle 
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
munition. A messenger must be. sent for more, along 
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one 
side of the animal, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 



From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
to aid tien. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
preparation for the march to tlie city of Mexico, he 
was appointed quartermaster of his regiinent. At the 
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
pultepec. 

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
■'LTncle Sam has educated me for the army; though 
I have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
I have yet repaid thedebt. I am still ready to discharge 
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
the capital of the State, where their services were 
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. 
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
State in behalf of the Government. On the 15th of 




■V®))^^€- 



^^^^ ^7^>Il!l^(ltlf^^ 






^ 



(V 




d; 






1 

1=3 




■^^v<^^iiD;^iioi>7- 






4^^ 



UL YSSES S. GRA NT. 



June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
stripes were unfurled in its stead. 

He entered the service with great determination 
and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and 
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
immediately made a M.njor-General, and the military 
district of Tennessee was assigned to him. 

Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well how 
to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
and opened up the .Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 

Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with 
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid 
of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Cliattanooga, and 
by a wonderful series of strategic and tactical meas- 
ures put the Union army in fighting condition. Then 
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
and enter upon the duties of his new office. 




Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
stroy the rebel arnries which would be promptly as- 
sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
continent seemed to tremble under the trampof these 
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
campaigns, which were e.xecuted with remarkable en- 
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 

The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
the country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago, 
May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the 
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
electoral votes. 

The National Convention of the Republican party 
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second tenii 
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
electoral votes being cast for him. 

Soon after the close of his second term. Gen. tirant 
started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
and was everywhere received with such ovations 
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
as well as public and official, as were never before 
bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. It 
is not too much to say that his modest, courteous, and 
dignified demeanor in the presence of the most dis- 
tinguished men in the different nations in the world, 
reflected honor upon the Reixiblic which he so long 
and so faithfully served. The country felt a great 
pride in his reception. Upon his arrival in San Fran- 
cisco, Sept. 20, 1879, the city authorities gave him a 
fine reception. After lingering in the Golden State 
for a while, he began his tour through the States, 
which extended North and South, everywhere mark- 
ed by great acclamation and splendid ovations. 



V^ 



i 










Hmm\^i>^ 



o. 



^4^^^ 





'II 



6 L>tA^<2Lv>-^ 




■^n!<>Mm\ii>^ 



NINETEENTH PRESIDENT. 



4^^(@V^ 



^ 





RUTHERi:ORD B. HAYES. 



I' r.^v ■^;jj^^^;^|^^^l^;.'■.Vl^;l^;^.^;v^^'l^-:^'??jl>:l!i^^^^'i^.n^v f'l 







1 

5 



1 



^ 



■i.'"'C3 




UTHERFORD B. HAVKS, 
the nineteenth President of 
l^'^the United States, was born in 
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
most three months after the 
"-^ deatli of liis father, Rutherford 
Hayes. His ancestry on both 
the paternal and maternal sides, 
was of the most honorable char- 
acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
as farb.ackas i:!8o, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
tains, fighting side by side with 
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
nobility, owned extensive estates, 
and had a large following. Misfor- 
tune overtaking the family, George Hayes left .Scot- 
land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
George was born in Windsor, and remained there 
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
ried Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar- 
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
son of Daniel, was Ijorn in 1724, and was a manufac- 
turerof scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
son of Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was 
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
erford Hayes, the father of President Hayes, was 




born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia 
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
grated thither from Connecticut, they having beeri 
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The father of President Hayes was an industrious, 
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- 
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
ing, or do almost anything else tliat he choose to 
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
the close of the war of 181 2, for reasons inexplicable 
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day, 
when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, 
was a very serious affair, k tour of inspection was 
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter- 
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 
fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
some time before as an act of charity. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 



9 



^ 
^ 

(^ 



g)^s ^4| ^ 



-i^ 



A^^n!i^iinf> 




■:2j€»^ 6VC^lID^IIII^>r 



TT 



•^2^^ 



-^^5((®VM 



92 



RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



) 



(. 



'O 



subject of this sketch was so feeble at birtli tluU he 
was not expected to Hve beyond a month ur two at 
most. As the months went by lie grew weaker and 
weaker, so iluit the neighliors were in the habit of in- 
iHiiringfrom time to time '" if Mrs. Hayes' baliy died 
last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
famihar terms with tlie family, after alluding to tiie 
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
him, said in a bantering way, " That's right ! Stick to 
him. Vou have got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
wonder if he would really come to something yet." 

"You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You 
wait and see. You can't tell but 1 shall make him 
President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy 
death; and when, in 1S25, his older brother was 
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
mother. 

The boy was seven years old before he went to 
school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
He probably learned as much from his mother and 
sister as he would have done at school. His sports 
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of disix)- 
/S sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
a of others, which are marked traits of his character. 
^ His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest 
•^ in his education ; and as the boy's health had ini- 
° proved, and he was making good progress in his 
studies, he proiX)sed to send liim to college. His pre- 



S^ 



•::• 



paration commenced with a tutor at home; but he 
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
Wesleyan Lhiiversity, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixteen, 
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 

Immediately after his graduation he began the 
study of law in the oPRce of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., 
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
Columbus somewhat limiteil, he deterniintd to enter 
the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
mained two years. 

In 1845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was 
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law 
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, 
and apparently unambitious of distinction in his pro- 
fession. 

In 1841) he moved to Cincmnati, where his ambi- 
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
this period, had a (wwerful intluence u[K)n his subse- 
quent life. One of these was his niarrage with Miss 
Lucy W.ire Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin- 
cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
members such men as Chief justice Salmon P.Chase, 



Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
others hardly less distinguished in after life. The 
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
ever) body knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
and beloved than was Mrs. 11 ayes, and no one did 
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman- 
hood. The Literary Club brought .Mr. Hayes into 
constant association with )oung men of high char- 
acter and noble aims, and lured him lo display the 
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and 
modesty. 

In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judge of 
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- 
cept the nomination. Two years later, the ofifice of 
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council 
elected him for the unexpired term. 

In 1 86 1, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at 
the zenith of his jirofessional life. His rank at the 
bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take up 
arms for tlie defense of his country. 

His military record was bright arid illustrious. In 
October, 186 1, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
in August, 1S62, ))ronioted Colonel of the 79tli Ohio 
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
of South Mountain he received a wound, and while 
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
that won admiration from all. 

Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-tieneral, and placed 
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill anil Cedar Creek, he was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
Majur-General, "forgalfant and distirguished Fcrvices 
during the campaigns of 1S64, in West Virginia." In 
the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. 

In 1864, (len. Haves was elected to Congress, from 
the .Second Ohio District, whicli had long been Dem- 
ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, 
and after his election was inqiortuned to resign liis 
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " 1 
shall never come to Washington until 1 can come by 
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866. 

In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
over Hon. .\llen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat. 
In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
He was elected Governor for the third term in 1873. 

In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a 
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in 
augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
full term, not, however, with satisfaction to his party, 
but his administratior, was an average one 



^ 



s 
k 



ca: 






^ 



jsi^y^ 



■K-nn 



^nDit>-^^- 



-~v- 



4^^^ 




T 

i 

? 



TWENTIETH PRESIDENT. 






95 




*'^^Sii'ir' 




^, 



\^ 



A 



>: 



^ 

s 



:) 



^ 



ft 





^ES A. GARFIELD, twen- 
;th President of the United 
States, was born Nov. 19, 
1 83 1, in the woods of Orange, 
Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
"* ents were Abram and Eliza 
--,, y c, (Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
England ancestry- and from fami- 
lies well known in the early his- 
;*M? '- 'OT of that section of our coun- 
trj-, but had moved to the Western 
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
ment. 

The house in which James A. was 
born was not unlike the houses of 
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
was about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
tween the logs filled witli clay. His father was a 
hard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built. 
The household comprised the father and mother and 
their four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and 
James. In May, 1S23, the father, from a cold con- 
tracted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
this time James was about eighteen months old, and 
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can 
tell how much James was indebted to his biother's 
toil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly verj- 
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
ters live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 

The early educational advantages young Garfield 
enjoyed were verv limited, yet he made the most of 
them. He labored at f.-'.rm work for others, did car- 
penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
mother in her struggles to keep the little family to- 



gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
gling childhood, youlh and manhood, neither did they 
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor, 
the humblest friend of his boyhood was as kindly 
greeted as ever. 'I'he ]worest laborer was sure of the 
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
modest gentleman. 

The highest ambition of young Garfield until he 
was about si.xteen years old was to be a captain of 
a vessel on Lake Eiie. He was anxious to go aboard 
a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
finall)- consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
understanding, however, that he should tr)- to obtain 
some other kind of employment. He waliced all the 
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city. 
After making many applications for work, and trying 
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
Letcher, on the Ohio &: Pennsylvania Canal. He re- 
mained at this work but a short time when he went 
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
which churcli he was then a member. He became 
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his wav. 
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon 
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon- 
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram 
College as its President. As above stated, he early 
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where 
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of 
Yale College, savs of him in reference to his relision : 



A 






I 



^pHiP*^# 



~^^^^" 



u^-i^ii 



<mm^^>^ 





96 



JAMES A. GARFIELD. 



m 



1=3: 

i 



" President Garfield was more than a man of 
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to 
man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
of his benig, and to a more than usual degree. In 
my judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian 
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
and noble who are called ' show a similar loyalty to 
the less stately and cultured Christian communions 
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
that as they step upward in social and political sig- 
nificance they step upward from one degree to 
another in some of the many types of fashionable 
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
church of his mother, tlie church in which he was 
trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
evangelist, and yet witli the largest and most unsec- 
tarian charity for all 'who loveourLord in sincerity.'" 

Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. 11, 1858, who proved herself 
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
whom are still living, four boys and one girl. 

Mr. Garfield made his first political s[)eeches in 1856, 
in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
and in i86i was admitted to the bar. The great 
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
ceived his commission as Lieut. -Colonel of the Forty- 
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action, 
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
work of driving out of his native State the officer 
(Humphrey Marshall) reputed to be the ablest of 
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
Brigadier-General, Jan. lo, 1862; and as "he had 
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
before, so now he was the youngest General in the 
army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at ShiloJi, 
in its operations around Corinth and its marcli through 
Alabama. He was tlien detailed as a member of the 
General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose- 
crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of Staff." 

The military history of Gen. Garfield closed with 






l-\®))^#— 



r^^^^ .^-A^\i\^ 



his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
the stars 01 the Major-General. 

Without an effort on his part Gen. Garfield was 
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the 
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
had been represented in Congress for si.xty years 
mainly by two men — Elisha Wliittlesey and Joshua 
R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he 
resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- 
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
body. There he remained by successive re- 
elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
Of his labors in Congress .Senator Hoar says : "Since 
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which 
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
tribunel of the American people, in regard to which 
you will not find, if you wish nistruction, the argu- 
ment on one side stated, in almost evefy instance 
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
the House of Representatives or on the hustings 1 
Mr. Garfield." 

Upon Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
He was elected in the following November, and on 
March 4, i88i, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
auspices than that of President Garfield, and every 
day it grew in favo; with the peo]3le, and by tlie first 
of July he had comiileted all the initiatory and pre- 
liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- 
pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind 
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
left coat sleeve of his victim, but inilicting no farther 
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
" the shot that was heard round the world " Never 
before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
curred which so nearly froze the blood of the people 
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty 
days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
master of himself till the last, and bv his magnificent 
bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the 
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept, 
19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank of the 
ocean, wliere he had been taken shortly previous. The 
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
death of any other man wlio had ever lived upon it. 
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
cuted, in one year after he committed the foul deed. 



vs- 



^5 



(I) 






• 



I 




I%N 




f 



> 






^$^#' 



TWENTY.FIRST PRESIDENT. 









W'.^mirm'L\^-. 



wl 



mm §k^ MM'V'iimm, 



m 








i 



^ 

s 

b 



^ 










^^±JiL 



HESTER A. ARTHUR, 

^i_,__^twenty-first President of the 

United States, was born in 

Franklin County, Vermont, on 

^ !o thefifthof October, 18^0, andis 

?/ the oldest of a family of two 



WM: 



''^n 



i 



sons and five daughters. His 

father was the Rev. Dr. William 

Arthur, a Baptist clergyman, who 

emigrated to this countr)' from 

the county Antrim, Ireland, in 

his i8th year, and died in 1875, in 

Newtonville, near Albany, after a 

long and successful ministry. 

Young Arthur was educated at 
Union College, Schenectady, where 
he excelled in all his studies. .\f- 
ter his graduation he taught school 
in Vermont for two years, and at 
the e.vpiration of that time came to 
New York, with $500 in his jxjcket, 
and entered the office of ex-Judge 
E. D. Culver as student, .\fter 
1 being admitted to the bar he formed 
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
but in the end returned to New York, where they 
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
soon afterward married the daughter of Lieutenant 



Hemdon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
nommation to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
children. 

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had 
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon- 
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
that they could not be held by the owner under the 
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
to represent the People, and they won their case, 
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause 
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs. 
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
the emancipation of the black race. 

.\nother great service was rendered by General 
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 



C) 



y 



«; 
A 



$^: 







:35^^r^ ^;A<^>n j] g IlBf>it^ s^^^jK. 









^^8^ 



loo 



-^=nr<>nil^llll^> 

CHESTER A 



ARTHUR. 



4^^^ 



) 



^. 



:>5 

1=3 
> 



t 






followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- 
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 

General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
Previous to the war he was Judge- Advocate of the 
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
ernor Morgan, of that State, apjwinted hnii Engineer- 
in-Chief of his staff. In i86i, he was made Inspec- 
tor General, and soon afterward became (Quartermas- 
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
great service to the Government during the war. At 
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney 
of New York, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
tice of tliis well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
not indeed one of national extent. 

He always took a leading part in State and city 
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 , 1872, to suc- 
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
ticket, with Gen. James A. (iarfield, at the famous 
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
convention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
was composed of the leading politicians of the Re- 
pubHcan party, all alile men, and each stood firm and 
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
respective candidates that were before the conven- 
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
was one of the most animated known in the history of 
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his 
party made a valiant fight for his election. 

Finally the election came and the country's choice 
was Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. 
A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
came terrible weeks of suffering, — those moments of 
anxious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na- 




tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re- 
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
able patience that he manifested during those hours 
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- 
like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to 
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
honored jxjsition in tlie world was at any moment 
likely to fall to him. 

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
field from further suffering, and the world, as never 
before in its history over the death of any other 
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
the Vice President to assume the responsibilities of 
the high office, and he took the oath in New York, 
Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing 
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
and many imix)rtant measures were to be immediately 
decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass him lie 
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
this point. I'^nder these trying circumstances President 
Arthur took the reins of the Government in his own 
hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
affairs, he has happily surprised the Nation, acting so 
justly, so wisely, so well, that but few have criticised 
his administration. Should he continue during the 
remainder of his term to pursue the wise policy he 
has followed thus far, we believe President Arthur's 
administration will go down in history as one of the 
wisest and most satisfactory our country has ever 
enjoyed. His highest ambition seems to be to do his 
duty to the whole Nation, even to the sacrifice of his 
warmest personal friends. With the good of the 
people at heart, and guided by the wisdom already 
displayed, he will surprise his opponents, gratify his 
friends, and bless the .\merican Republic, during 
the years he occupies the Presidential chair. 









(^ 




^^'i* 



^^*'^^ — ^H-^nii;^iii]it>A^ 




^^r^>^m^ '-^^^ — ^v4^tin§iiti>^^:^er 



^p 






(b 



e 



) 



k} 










^ 



(' 



'c^ 






\m^»- 



AV«~5 



-^«»^^^ — ^^-inn^ntin 



^a,^. 



9^^ 



'^^^^ 



-:2^^^ t;7V4^Il n^ n nv>r^:r 3i«»sr 



-«# 



WB 



v^ 



A 



>5 



V 

s. 



1 




l^v^^«^# 



.^^^^^e: — e^^iiii^nn;i>A;^^ — ^^j?^ 



c^ 









I 




^ 



Wrf^^^^ 






-^^^ '^=rr(^M:&Wt>T 



m 






(^) 



/>< 



:«- 



4. 

-'V 

i 



^ 









I 



i 



^) 



I 



-3!i^^JS^ 



o ,^<r^;[^fl^g 



<^II!ISnD^>^-^ ^^^^^^ 4^ 



^ 

^ 



^^^^^(^ 



^^ik/^ 



-^^^ K <o\ ^UMhW 



TT- 



K^ 






I 

Si 

(!) 







a:>^^ 








v|) 



9 

1=3 



r^, 



g|>vr)«^<l* 



-^'5^^^ 



<^D!i^Da;t>-^ 



*-*^ 



-l^5C@>N^ 



> 



♦1 



^. 




# 




'/ 



M>-€^ys^ 



<if.A 



aiM^. 




GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 






loS 







•l ■*Jl-^-^^*?S 









i 

1 



^) 




TEPHEN T. MASON, the 

first (.Governor of Michigan, was 
a son of Clen. John T. Mason, 
of Kentucky, but was born in 
Virginia, in 1812. At the age 
'^ of 19 he was appointed Secre- 
tary of Michigan Territory, and 
served in that capacity during the 
administration of Gov. George B. 
Porter. Upon the death of Gov. 
Porter, which occurred on the 6th of 
July, 1834, Mr. Mason became Act- 
ing Governor. In October, 1835, he 
was elected Governor under the State 
organization, and immediately en- 
tered upon the performance of the 
duties of the olifice, although the 
State was not yet admitted into the Union. After 
the State was admitted into the Union, Governor 
Mason was re-elected to the position, and served with 
credit to himself and to the advantage of the State. 
He died Jan. 4, 1843. The principal event during 
Governor Mason's official career, was that arising from 
the disputed southern boundary of the State. 

Michigan claimed for her southern boundary aline 

running east across the peninsula from the extreme 

southern point of Lake Michigan, extending through 

Lake Erie, to the Pennsylvania line. This she 

claimed as a vested right — a right accruing to her by 

(q^ compact. This compact was the ordinance of 1787, 

[ the parties to which were the original 13 States, and 

|<^ the territory northwest of the Ohio ; and, by the suc- 

t cession of parties under statutory amendments to the 
ordinance and laws of Congress — the United States on 
^^ the one part, and each Territory northwest of the 
Ohio, as far as affected by their provisions, on the 






other. Michigan, therefore, claimed it under the prior 
grant, or assignation of boundary. 

Ohio, on the other hand, claimed that the ordmance 
had l)een superseded by the Constitution of the 
United States, and that Congress had a right to regu- 
late the boundary. It was also claimed that the 
Constitution of the State of Ohio having described a 
different line, and Congress having admitted the State 
under that Constitution, without mentioning the sub- 
ject of the line in dispute, Congress had thereby given 
its consent to the line as laid down by the Constitu- 
tion of Ohio. This claim was urged by Ohio at 
some periods of the controversy, but at others she ap- 
peared to regard the question unsettled, by the fact 
that she insisted upon Congress taking action in re- 
gard to the boundary. Accordingly, we find that, in 
1812, Congress authorized the Surveyor-General to 
survey a line, agreeably to the act, to enable the people 
of Ohio to form a Constitution and State government. 
Owing to Indian hostilities, however, the line was not 
run till 1S18. In 1820, the question in dispute 
underwent a rigid examination by the Committee on 
Public Lands. The claim of Ohio was strenuously 
urged by her delegation, and as ably opposed by Mr. 
Woodbridge, the then delegate from Michigan. The 
result was that the committee decided unanimously 
in favor of Michigan; but, in the hurry of business, 
no action was taken by Congress, and the question 
remained open till Michigan organized her State gov- 
ernment. 

The Territory in dispute is about five miles in 
width at the west end, and about eight miles in width 
at the east end, and extends along the whole north- 
ern line of Ohio, west of Lake Erie. The line claimed 
by Michigan was known as the " Fulton line," and 
that claimed by Ohio was known as the " Harris line," 



"^^ 

«;'' 
^ 






C^) 



-^^m^ %^<->Il !]'^]iav>A;^3 — ^^^^ 



-^^((®>i 





Zii^^^ 



■'6^r^\imm>7-^ 



V 



^ 



^ 



S Qt 



O 



STEPHEN T. MASON. 






\\ from the names of the surveyors. The territory' was 
valuable for its ricli agricultural lands; but the chief 
value consisted in the fact that the harbor on the 
Mauinee River, where now stands the flourishing city 
of Toledo, was included within its limits The town 
originally bore the name of Swan Creek, afterwards 
Port Lawrence, then Vestula, and then Toledo. 

In February, 1S35, the Legislature of Ohio passed 
an act extending the jurisdiction of the State over 
the territory in question; erected townships and 
directed them to liold elections in April following. It 
also directed Governor Lucus to apjxjint three com- 
missioners to survey and re-mark the Harris line ; and 
named the first of April as the day to cominence the 
survey. Acting Governor Mason, however, anticipated 
this action on the part of the Ohio Legislature, sent 
a special message to the Legislative Council, appris- 
ing it of ("Tovernor Lucas' message, and advised imme- 
diate action by that body to anticipate and counteract 
the proceedings of Ohio. Accordingly, on the 1 2th 
of February, the council passed an act making it a 
crimmal offence, punishable by a heavy fine, or im- 
^ prisonment, for any one to attempt to exercise any 
f^ official functions, or accept any office within the juris- 
diction of Michigan, under or by virture of any au- 
thority not derived from the Territory, or the United 
States. On the 9th of March, Governor Mason wrote 
General Brown, then in command of the Michigan 
militia, directing him to hold himself in readiness to 
meet the enemy in the field in case any attempt was 
made on the part of Ohio to carry out the provisions 
of that act of the Legislature. On the 31st of March, 
Governor Lucus, with his commissioners, arrived at 
Perrysburgh, on their way to commence re-surveying 
the Harris line. He was accompanied by General 
Bell and staff, of the Ohio Militia, who proceeded to 
muster a volunteer force of about 600 men. This 
was soon accomplished, and the force fully armed and 
equipped. The force then went into camp at Fort 
Miami, to await the Governor's orders. 

In the meantime. Governor Mason, with General 
Brown and staff, had raised a force 800 to 1200 
strong, and were in possession of Toledo. General 
Brown's Staff consisted of Captain Henry Smith, of 
Monroe, Inspector; Major J. J. Ullman, of Con- 
stantine, Quartermaster ; William E. Broadman, of 
Detroit, and Alpheus Fekh, of Monroe, Aids-de- 
camp. When Governor Lucas observed the deter- 
mined bearing of the Michigan braves, and took note 




i»v®))«^ti- 



-^^ ^=!r^-^DI] 



of their nmiiber, he found it convenient to content 
himself for a time with " watching over the border." 
Several days were passed in this exhilarating employ- 
ment, and just as Governor Lucas had made up his 
mind to do something rash, two commissioners ar- 
rived from Washington on a mission of peace. They 
remonstrated with Gov. Lucus, and reminded him of 
the consequences to himself and his State if he per- 
sisted in his attempt to gain possessionof the disputed 
territory by force. After several conferences with 
both governors, the connitissioners submitted proix)si- 
tions for their consideration. 

Governor Lucas at once accepted the propositions, 
and disbanded his forces. Governor Mason, on the 
other hand, refused to accede to the arrangement, and 
declined to compromise the rights of his people by a 
surrender of jxissession and jurisdiction. When Gov- 
ernor Lucus disbanded his forces, however. Governor 
Mason partially followed suit, but still held himself 
in readiness to meet any emergency that might arise. 

Governor Lucus now supjxssed that his way was 
clear, and that he could re-mark the Harris line with- 
out being molested, and ordered the commissioners 
to proceed with their work. 

In the meantime, Governor Mason kept a watch- 
ful eye upon the proceedings. General Brown sent 
scouts through the woods to watch their movements, 
and re[X)rt when operations were commenced. When 
the surveying party got within the county of Lena- 
wee, the under-sheriff of that county, armed with a 
warrant, and accompanied by a posse, suddenly made 
his appearance, and succeeded in arresting a portion 
of the party. The rest, including the commissioners, 
took to their heels, and were soon beyond the dis- 
puted territory. They reached Perrysburgh the fol- 
lowing day in a highly demoralized condition, and 
reported they had been attacked by an overwhelm- 
ing force of Michigan malitia, under command of 
General Brown. 

This summary breaking up of the surveying party 
produced the most tremendous excitement throughout 
Ohio. Governor Lucas called an extra session of the 
Legislature. But little remains to be said in reference 
to the "war." The question continued for some time 
to agitate the minds of the opposing parties ; and the 
action of Congress was impatiently awaited. Michigan 
was admitted into the Union on the condition that 
she give to Ohio the disputed territon', and accept 
in return the Northern Peninsula, which she did. 



% 



"^ 



'4^ 



V$ 






(> 
■^ 

1 



V 

(I 



I 







f 





^'^/^^^:^2y~t/P-T^^^yC:> 



^^^^@))^^- 



ve^tm^nii?^' 



^^ 



^ 



:) 



{o\ 



SECOND GO VERNOR OF MICHIGAN. 



S., 









;:?f 



1^ ILLIAM WOODBRIDGE, 
jg» second (iovernor of Michigan, 
% was l)orn at Norwich, Conn., 
r Aut;. 20, 1780, and died at 
Detroit Oct. 20, 1861. He 




9t» 



• ,j\ was of a family of three brothers 
'' 1 and two sisters. His father, 
Dudley Woodbridge, removed to 
\ Marietta, Ohio, about 1790. The 
I life of Wm. ^Voodbridge, by Chas. 
^ Lauman, from which this sketch 
is largely compiled, mentions noth- 
ing concerning his early education 
beyond the fact that it was such as 
was afforded by the average school 
of the time, except a year with the 
French colonists at Gallipolis, 
where he acquired a knowledge of 
the French language. It should 
be borne in mind, however, that 
home education at that time was 
an indispensable feature in the 
training of the young. To this and 
and to a few studies well mastered, 
is due that strong mental discipline which has served 
as a basis for many of the grand intellects that have 
adorned and helped to make our National history. 
Mr. Woodbridge studied law at Marietta, having 
as a fellow student an intimate personal friend, a 
young man subsequently distinguished, but known 
at that time simply as Lewis Cass. He graduated at 
the law school in Connecticut, after a course there of 
nearly three years, and began to practice at Marietta 
in 1806. In June, 1806, he married, at Hartford, Con- 
necticut, Juleanna, daughter of John Trumbell, a 
distinguished author and judge ; and author of the 




peom McFingal, which, during a dark period of the 
Revolution, wrought such a magic change upon the 
spirits of the colonists. He was happy in his domes ■ 
tic relations until the death of Mrs. W., Feb. 2, ig, i860. 

Our written biographies necessarily speak more 
tuUy of men, because of their active particijiation in 
public affairs, but human actions are stamped upon 
the page of time and when the scroll shall be unrolled 
the influence of good women upon the history of the 
world will be read side by side with the deeds of men. 
How much success and renown in life many men owe 
to their wives is probably little known. Mrs. W. en- 
joyed the best means of early education that the 
country afforded, and her intellectual genius enabled 
her to improve her advantages. During her life, side 
by side with the highest type of domestic and social 
graces, she manifested a keen intellectuality that 
formed the crown of a faultless character. She was 
a natural poet, and wrote quite a large number of fine 
verses, some of which are preserved in a printed 
memorial essay written upon the occasion of her 
death. In this essay, it is said of her "to contribute 
even in matters of minor importance, to elevate the 
reputation and add to the well being of her husband 
in the various stations he was called upon to fill, gave 
her the highest satisfaction " She was an invalid 
during the latter portion of her life, but was patient 
and cheerful to the end. 

In 1807, Mr. W. was chosen a representative to the 
General Assembly of Ohio, and in 1809 was elected to 
the Senate, continuing a member by re-election until 
his removal from the State. He also held, by ai> 
pointment, during the time the office of Prosecuting 
Attorney for his county. He took a leading part in 
the Legislature, and in 181 2 drew up a declaration and 
resolutions, which passed the two houses unamiuously 



o 



9 






^ 





WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE. 





> 



:^ 



Q^ 



I 



and attracted great attention, endorsing, in strongest 
and most emphatic terms, the war measures of Presi- 
dent Madison. Daring the period from 1804 to 1814 
the two law students, Woodbridge and t'ass, had be- 
come widely sei)arated. The latter was Governor of 
the Territot}- of Michigan vmderthe historic "Governor 
and Judges" plan, with the indis|)ensable renuisite of a 
Secretary of the Territorry. '{"his latter jK)sition was, 
in 18 14, without solicitation on his part, tendered to 
Mr. \V. He accepted the position with some hesita- 
tion, and entered upon its duties as soon as he could 
make the necessary arrangements for leaving Ohio. 
The office of Secretary involved also the duties of 
collectorof customs at the port of Detroit, and during 
the frequent absences of the Governor, the dischargeof 
of his duties, also including those of Superintendent 
of Indian Affairs. Mr. W. officiated as Governor for 
about two years out of the eight years that he held the 
office of Secretary Under the administration of "Gov- 
ernor and Judges," which the people of the Territory 
preferred for economical reasons, to continue some time 
after their numbers entitled them to a more popular 
representative system, they were allowed no delegate 
in Congress. Mr. W., as a sort of informal agent of 
the people, by correspondence and also by a visit to 
the National capital, so clearly set forth the demand 
for representation by a delegate, that an act was 
passedin Congress in iSigauthorizingone to be chosen. 
Under this act Mr. W. was elected by the concurrence 
of all parties. His first action in Congress was to secure 
the passage of a bill recognizing and confirming the 
old French land titles in the Territory according to 
the terms of the treaty of peace with Great Britain 
at the close of the Revolution ; and another for the 
construction of a Government road through the "black 
swamps" from the Miami River to Detroit, thus open- 
ing a means of land transit between Ohio and Mich- 
igan. He was influential in securing the passage of 
bills for the construction of Government roads from 
Detroit to Chicago, and Detroit to Fort Gratiot, and 
for the improvement of La Plaisance Bay. The ex- 
pedition for the exploration of the country around 
Lake Superior and in the valley of the Upper Mis- 
sissippi, projected by Governor Cass, was set on foot 
by means of representations made to the head of the 
department by Mr. W. While in Congress he stren- 
uously maintained the right of Michigan to the strip 
of territory now forming the northern boundary of 
Ohio, which formed the subject of such grave dispute 
between Ohio and Michigan at the time of the ad- 
mission of the latter into the Union. He served 
but • one term as delegate to Congress, de- 
clining further service on account of personal and 
family considerations. Mr. W. continued to discharge 
the duties of Secretary of the Territory up to the time 
its Government passed into the "second grade." 

In 1824, he was appointed one of a board of 
commissioners for adjusting private land claims in 




the Territory, and was engaged also in the practice of 
his profession, having the best law library in the Ter- 
ritory. In 1828, upon the recommendation of the 
Governor, Judges and others, he was appointed by the 
President, J. t^. Adams, to succeed Hon. James With- 
erell, who had resigned as a Judge of what is conven- 
tionally called the "Supreme Court" of the Territory. 
This court was a|)parently a continuation of the Terri- 
torial Court, under the "first grade" or "Governor and 
Judges" system, .\lthough it was supreme in its ju- 
dicial functions within the Territory, its powers and 
duties were of a very general character. 

In 1832, the term of his appointment as Judge ex- 
piring. President Jackson appointed a successor, it is 
supposed on political grounds, much to the disappoint- 
ment of the pubhc and the bar of the Territory. The 
partisan feeling of the time extended into the Terri- 
tory, and its people began to think of assuming the 
dignity of a State government. Party lines becom- 
ing very sliarply drawn, he identified himself with 
the Whigs and was elected a member of the Conven- 
tion of 1835, which formed the first State Constitution. 
In 1837 he was elected a member of tie 'rotate Senate. 

This sketch has purposely dealt somewhat in detail 
with what may be called Judge W's. earlier career, 
because it is closely identified with the early his- 
tory of the State, and the development of its politi- 
cal system. Since the organization of the State Gov- 
ernment the history of Michigan is more familiar, and 
hence no review of Judge W's career as Governor 
and Senator will be attempted. He was elected Gov- 
ernor in 1839, under a popular impression that the 
affairs of the State had not been prudently adminis- 
tered by the Democrats. He served as Governor but 
little more than a year, when he was elected to the 
Senate of the United States. 

His term in the Senate practically closed his polit- 
ical life, although he was strongly urged by many 
prominent men for the Whig nomination for Vice 
President in 1848. 

Soon after his appointment as Judge in 182S, Gov- 
ernor W. took up his residence on a tract of land 
which he owned in the township of Spring Wells, a 
short distance below what v/as then the corporate lim- 
its of Detroit, where he resided during the remainder 
of his life. Both in his public papers and private 
communications, Governor W. shows himself a mas- 
ter of language; he is fruitful in simile and illustra- 
tion, logical in arrangement, happy in the choice and 
treatment of topics, and terse and vigorous in expres- 
sion. Judge W. was aCongregationalist. His opinions 
on all subjects were decided; he was earnest and 
energetic, courteous and dignified, and at times ex- 
hibited a vein of fine humor that was the more at- 
tractive because not too often allowed to come to the 
surface. His letters and addresses show a deep and 
earnest affection not only for his ancestral home, but 
the home of his adoptiim and for friends and family. 



ski 



i 






r^ 



^^■'¥ 



-^^^ ^^A<-^0!l^g>DDr^A;9 ^^^ 




I 




.'^^'•'^^'''^^■^^^'■^^-•■^^^^^ 



a_xJOHNS. BARRY 








OHN STEWARD BARRY, 
J Governor of Michigan from 
Jan. 3, 1842, to Jan. 5, 1846, 
and from Jan. 7, ,850, to Jan. 
I, 1852, was born at Amherst, 
N. H., Jan. 29, 1802. His par- 
ents, John and Ellen (Steward) 
Barry, early removed to Rocking- 
ham, Vt., where he remained until 
I'ebecameofage, working on his 
father's fami, and pursuing his 
studies at the same time. He mar- 
ried Mary Kidder, of Grafton, Vt., 
and in 1824 went to Georgia, Vt.' 
where he had charge of an academy 
for two years, meanwhile studying 
,, . c- '''''''■ "'^ afterward practiced law in 

hat State. Wh.le he was in Georgia he was for some 
t.me a member of the Governors staff, with the title 
of Governors Aid, and at a somewhat earlier period 
was Captamof a company of State militia In ,8^r 
he removed to Michigan, and settled at White Pigeo'n 
where lie engaged in mercantile business with I w' 
Willard. 

Four years after, ,834, Mr. Barry removed to Con- 



stantme and continued his mercantile pursuits. He 
became Justice of the Peace at White Pigeon, Mich , 
>" 1831, and held the office until the year 183^ 
Mr Barry s first public office was that of a member 
of the first constitutional convention, which assembled 
and framed the constitution upon which Michigm 
was admitted into the Union. He took an important 
and prominent part in the proceedings of that body 
and showed himself to be a man of far more than 
ordinary ability. 

Upon Michigan being admitted into the Union 
Mr. Barry was chosen State Senator, and so favorably 
were his associates impressed with his abilities at the 
first session of the Legislature that they looked to him 
as a party leader, and that lie should head the State 
ticket at the following election. Accordingly he re 
ceived the nomination for Governor at the hands 
o his party assembled in convention. He was 
elected and so popular was his administration that in 
1842, he was again elected. During these years 
M chigan was embarrassed by great financial diffi- 
culties, and it was through his wisdom and sound judg- 
ment that the State was finally placed upon a solfd 
nnancial basis. 

During the first year of Gov. Barry's first term, the 
University at Ann Arbor was opened for the reception 



1=1 

1=3 








^^^ 



JOHN STEWARD BARRY. 



^^^^ 



> 
1 



of students. The Michigan Central and Michigan 
Southern railroads were being rapidly constructed, and 
general progress was everywhere noticeable. In 1842, 
the number of pupils reported as attending the public 
schools was nearly fifty-eight thousand. In 1843, a 
State land office was established at Marshall, which 
was invested with the charge and disposition of all 
the lands belonging to the State. In 1844, the tax- 
able property of the State was found to be over 
twenty-eight millions of dollars, the tax being at the 
rate of two mills on the dollar. The expenses of the 
State were only seventy thousand dollars, while the 
income from the railroads was nearly three hundred 
thousand dollars. At this time the University of 
Michigan had become so prosperous that its income 
was ample to pay the interest on the University debt ; 
and the amount of money which the State was able 
to loan the several progressing railroads was one 
hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Efforts were 
made to increase the efficiency of the common schools 
with good results In 1845, when Gov. Barry's sec- 
ond term expired, the population of the State was 
more than three hundred thousand. 

The constitution of the State forbade more than two 
consecutive terms, but he was called upon to fill the 
position again in 1850 — -the only instance of the kind 
in the history of the State. He was a member of the 
Territorial Legislature, of the Constitutional Conven- 
tion, and afterward of the State House of Represent- 
atives. 

During Mr. Barry's third term as Governor the Nor- 
mal School was established at Ypsilanti, which was 
endowed with lands and placed in charge of a board 
of education consisting of six persons. A new con- 
stitution for the government of the State was also 
adopted and the " Great Railway Conspiracy Case " 
was tried. This grew out of a series of lawless acts 
which had been committed upon the property of the 
Michigan Central Railroad Company, along the line 
of their road, and finally the burning of the depot 
at Detroit, in r85o. 

At a setting of the grand jury of Wayne County, 
April 24, 185 1, 37 men of the 50 under arrest for this 
crime were indicted. May 20, following, the accused 
parties appeared at the Circuit Court of \Vayne, of 
which Warner Wing was resident judge. The Rail- 
road Company employed ten eminent lawyers, in- 
cluding David Stuart, John Van Arman, James A. 
Van Dyke, Jacob M. Howard, Alex. D. Fraser, Dan- 
iel Goodwin and William Gray. The defendants were 
represented by six members of the State bar, led by 
William H. Seward, of New York. The trial occupied 
four months, during which time the plaintiffs exam- 
ined 246 witnesses in 27 days, and the defendants 
249 in 40 days. Mr. Van Dyke addressed the jury 
for the prosecution ; William H. Seward for the 
defense. 

The great lawyer was convinced of the innocence 



of his clients, nor did the verdict of that jury and the 
sentence of that judge remove his firm belief that his 
clients were the victims of purchased treachery, 
rather than so many sacrifices to justice. 

The verdict of " guilty " was rendered at 9 o'clock 
V. M., .Sept. 25, 1851. On the 26th the prisoners were 
l)ut forward to receive sentence, when many of them 
protested their entire innocence, after which the pre- 
siding judge condemned 12 of the number to the fol- 
lowing terms of imprisonment, with hard labor, within 
the State's prison, situate in their county : Ammi 
Filley, ten years; Orlando L. Williams, ten years; 
Aaron Mount, eight years; .Andrew J. Freeland, eight 
years; Eben Farnham, eight years; William Corvin, 
eight years; Richard Price, eight years; Evan Price, 
eight years; Lyman Cliamplin, five years; Willard 
W. Cliamplin, five years; Erastus Champlin, five 
years; Erastus Smith, five years. 

In 1840, Gov. Barry became deeply interested in 
the cultivation of the sugar beet, and visited Europe 
to obtain information in reference to its culture. 

He was twice Presidential Elector, and his last 
public service was that of a delegate to the National 
Democratic Convention held in Chicago in 1864. 

He was a man who, throughout life, maintained a 
liigh character for integrity and fidelity to the trusts 
bestowed upon him, whether of a public or a private 
nature, and he is acknowledged by all to have been 
one of the most efficient and popular Governors the 
State has ever had. 

Gov. Barry was a man of incorruptible integrity. 
His opinions, which he reached by tlie most thorough 
investigation, he held tenaciously. His strong con- 
victions and outspoken honesty made it impossible for 
him to take an undefined jx)sition wlien a principle 
was involved. His attachments and prejudices were 
strong, yet he was never accused of favoritism in his 
administration of public affairs. As a speaker he was 
not remarkable. Solidity, rather than brilliancy, char- 
acterized his oratory, wliich is described as argument- 
ative and instructive, but cold, hard, and entirely 
wanting in rhetorical ornament. He was never elo- 
quent, seldom humorous or sarcastic, and in manner 
rather awkward. 

Although Mr. Barry's educational advantages were 
so limited, he was a life-long student. He mastered 
lioth ancient and modern languages, and acquired a 
thorough knowledge of history. No man owed less 
to political intrigue as a means of gaining posi- 
tion. He was a true statesman, and gained public es- 
teem by his solid worth. His political connections 
were always with the Democjatic party, and his opin- 
ions were usually extreme. 

Mr. Barry retired to private life after the beginning 
of the ascendency of the Republican party, and car- 
ried on his mercantile business at Constantine. He 
died Jan. r4, 1870, his wife's death having occurred a 
year previous, March 30, r869. They left no children. 



t 



'e- 









(^. 



I 




:# 



> \ 






# 



i\ 





(^ ■ 



-^V4>D11§I1D^>7'^^^^ — 5i4^^ 



^^m\'^ 



GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



"7 






s 

> 
(!) 







'S:g»i^;g*SJg*S;g<i^;g«S'^; 













^ 

1 



« 



LPHEUS FELCH, the third 
(iovernor of Michigan, was 
born in Limerick, Maine, Sep- 
tember 28, 1806. His grand- 
father, Abijah Felch, was a sol- 
dier in the Revolution ; and 
when a young man, having with 
others obtained a grant of land be- 
tween the Great and Little Ossipee 
Rivers, in Maine, moved to that re- 
gion when it was yet a wilderness. 
The father of Mr. Felch enil)arked in 
mercantile life at Limerick. He was 
the first to engage in that business in 
that section, and continued it until 
his death. The death of the father, 
followed within a year by the death of 
the mother, left the subject of this sketch, then three 
years old, to the care of relatives, and he found a 
home with his paternal grandfather, where he re- 
mained until his death. Mr Felch received his early 
education in the district school and a neighboring 
academy. In 1821 he became a student at Phillips 
Exter Academy, and, subsequently, entered Bowdoin 
College, graduated with the class of 1827. He at 
once began tlie study of law and was admitted to 
practice at Bangor, Me., in 1830. 

He began the practice of his profession at Houlton, 
Me., where he remained until 1833. The severity 
of the climate impaired his health, never very good, 
and he found it necessary to seek a change of climate. 
He disposed of his library and started to seek 
a new home. His intention was to join liis triend. 




Sargent S. Prentiss, at Vicksburg, Miss., but on his 
arrival at Cincinnati, Mr. Felch was attacked by 
cholera, and when he had recovdred sufficiently to 
permit of his traveling, found that the danger of the 
disease was too great to permit a journey down the 
river. He therefore determined to come to Miclii- 
gan. He first began to practice in this State at Mon- 
roe, where he continued until 1S43, when he removed 
to Ann .\rbor. He was elected to the State Legisla- 
ture in 1S35, and continued a member of that body 
during the years 1836 and 1837. While he held this 
office, the general banking law of the Stale was enact- 
ed, and went into operation. After mature delibera- 
tion, he became convinced that the proposed system 
of banking could not prove beneficial to the public 
interests ; and that, instead of relieving the people 
from the pecuniary difficulties under which they were 
laboring, it would result in still further embarrass- 
ment. He, therefore, opposed the bill, and pointed 
out to the House the disasters which, in his opinion, 
were sure to follow its passage. The public mind, 
however, was so favorably impressed by the measure 
that no other member, in either branch of the Legisla- 
ture, raised a dissenting voice, and but two voted with 
him in opposition to the bill. Early in 1838, he was 
appointed one of the Bank Commissioners of the 
State, and held that office for more than a year. Dur- 
ing this time, the new banking law had given birth to 
that numerous progeny known as "wild-cat" banks. 
Almost every village had its bank. The country was 
flooded with depressed "wild-cat" money. The ex- 
aminations of the Bank Commissioners brought to 
liL^ht frauds at every jwint, which were fearlessly re- 



'^ 



^ 






(^ 



^4^^ 



■^ 



^^nagDDr^ 





mmui^^ 



ALPHEUS FELCH. 



^ 

©; 



ported to the Legislature, and were followed by crim- 
inal prosecutions of the guilty parties, and the closing 
^ of many of their institutions. Tlie duties of the of- 
fice were most laborious, and in 1839 Mr. Felch re- 
signed. The chartered right of almost every bank 
had, in the meantime, been declared forfeited and 
the law repealed. It was subsequently decided to 
be constitutional by the Supreme Court of the State. 
In the year 1842 Governor Felch was appointed 
to the office of Auditor General of the State; but 
after holding the office only a few weeks, was com- 
missioned by the Governor as one of the Judges of the 
Supreme Court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resig- 
nation of Judge Fletcher. In January-, 1843, he was 
elected to the United States Senate for an unexpired 
term. In 1S45 he was elected Governor of Michigan, 
, ) and entered ui)on his duties at the commencement of 
^ the next year. In 1847 he was elected a Senator 
^ in Congress for six years ; and at once retired from 
the office of Governor, by resignation, which took 
effect March 4, 1847, wlien his Senatorial term com- 
menced. While a member of the Senate he acted on 
the Committee on Public Lands, and for four years 
was its Chairman. He filled the honorable position 
of Senator with becoming dignity, and with great 
credit to the State of Michigan. 

During Governor Felch 's administration the two 
railroads belonging to the State were sold to private 
corporations, — the Central for $2,000,000, and the 
Southern for $500,000. The exports of the State 
amounted in 1846 to $4,647,608. The total capacity 
of vessels enrolled in the collection district at Detroit 
was 26,928 tons, the steam vessels having 8,400 and 
the sailing vessels 18,528 tons, the whole giving em- 
ployment to 18,000 seamen In 1847, there were 39 
counties in the State, containing 435 townships ; and 
275 of these townships were supplied with good libra- 
ries, containing an aggregate of 37,000 volumes. 
At the close of his Senatorial term, in March, 1853, 
^ Mr. Felch was apjx)inted, by President Pierce, one of 
the Commissioners to adjust and settle the Spanish 






i 




and Mexican land claims in California, under the 

treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo, and an act of Congress 
passed for that ]niri)ose. He went to California in 
May, 1853, and was made President of the Commis- 
sion. The duties of this office were of the most im- 
portant and delicate character. The interest of the 
new State, and the fortunes of many of its citizens, 
both the native Mexican jxipulation and the recent 
American immigration ; the riglit of the Pueblos to 
their common lands, and of the Catholic Church to 
the lands of the Missions, — the most valuable of the 
State, — wereinvolved in the adjudicationsof this Com- 
mission. In March, 1856, their labors were brought 
to a close by the final disposition of all tlie claims 
wliich were presented. The record of their proceed- 
ings, — the testimony which was given in each case, 
and the decision of the Commissioners tliereon, — 
consisting of some forty large volumes, was deposited 
in the Department of the Interior at Washington. 

In June of that year, Governor Felch returned to 
Ann Arbor, where he has since been engaged piinci- 
pally in legal business. Since his return he has 
been nominated for Governor and also for U. S. Sen- 
ator, and twice for Judge of the Supreme Court. But 
tiie Democratic parly, lo which he lias always been 
attached, being in the minority, he failed of an elec- 
tion. In 1873 he withdrew from the active practice 
of law, and, with the exception of a tour in Europe, 
in 1875 has since led a life of retirement at liis home 
in Ann Arbor. In 1877 the University of Michigan 
conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. For 
many years he was one of the Regents of Michigan 
University, and in the spring of 1879 was ap|)ointed 
Tappan Professor of Law in the snme. Mr. Felch is 
the oldest surviving member of the Legislature from 
Monroe Co., the oldest and only surviving Bank Com- 
missioner of the State, the oldest surviving Auditor 
General of the State, the oldest surviving Governorof 
the State, the oldest surviving Judge of the Supreme 
Court of Michigan, and the oldest surviving United 
States Senator from the State of Michigan. 



I 



9 

.v>. 



^ 



('. 



^fl" 



.Li. 



A<^D!ii^nnn>Ar^- 




mi 



V 



r^i^K 6V^I] BSD Di^r^e) 3it«C^^ 

GO VERNORS. 



-^^^^®^/m 



(5^ 






% 




# 



LLIAM L. GREENLY 
'^Crovernor of Michigan for the 
year T847, was born at Hamil- 
ton, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 
8,1813. He graduated at Un- 
ion College, Schenectady, in 
1 83 1, studied law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1834. In 
1836, having removed to Michi- 
gan, he settled in Adrian, where 
he has since resided. The year 
following his arrival in- Michigan 
he was elected State Senator and 
served in that capacity until 1839. 
In 1845 he was elected Lieut. Gov- 
ernor and became acting Governor 
by the resignation of Gov. Felch, 
who was elected to the United 
States Senate. 

The war with Mexico was brought 
to a successful termination during Gov. Greenly 's 
administration. We regret to say that there are only 
few records e.xtant of the action of Michigan troops 
in the Mexican war. That many went there and 
fought well are points conceded ; but their names and 
nativity are hidden away in United States archives 



and where it is almost impossible to find them. 

The soldiers of this State deserve much of the 
credit of the memorable achievements of Co. K, 3d 
Dragoons, and Cos. A, E, and G of the U. S. Inf. 
The two former of these companies, recruited in this 
State, were reduced to one-third their original num- 
ber. 

In May, 1846, the Governor of Michigan was noti- 
fied by the War Department of the United States to 
enroll a regiment of volunteers, to be held in readi- 
ness for service whenever demanded. At his sum- 
mons 13 independent volunteer companies, 1 1 of 
infantry and two of cavalry, at once fell into line. Of 
the infantry four companies were from Detroit, bear- 
ing the honored names of Montgomery, Lafayette, 
Scott and Brady upon their banners. Of the re- 
mainder Monroe tendered two, Lenawee County three, 
St. Clair, Berrien and Hillsdale each one, and Wayne 
County an additional company. Of these alone the 
veteran Bradys were accepted and ordered into ser- 
vice. In addition to them ten companies, making the 
First Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, springing 
from various parts of the State, but embodying to a 
great degree the material of which the first volunteers 
was formed, were not called for until October follow- 
ing. This regiment was soon in readiness and pro- 
ceeded by orders from Government to the seat of war. 



(^ 



* 






f\®)^^^ 



m]\y>^^' ^si^^ 





-iiiis^^insr 



•r7 



'7<>MmU'r>: 



^T7- 



-ZH^^^^ 






^ 

V 

^ 



^ 






^ 

s 

O 





<^iin:^tinn> 



A^:^ 









■-S»^ft/wJ 



I 





V^"-^ ,_'Jt u,^ 




yZc 






) 






'^ 







:2ii€^^ 



'^Dll^ll]^:>r 



GOVERNORS. 



^=^ 



-^tj^^^C^Tvli 




^^^' 




V^s 






r.'^JU^^Yn^ 



EP^pi^RODiTog pi]sorr|. 



is<s*e-s-i^e:c$<s^;;s*^::s-»^:;S-4^;:s'#e::;r-^:::T-»^;:;H^?z*H^^ 




r,*> 




HE HON. EPAPHRODI- 
TUS RANSOM, the Seventh 
"^^ Oovernor of Michigan, was a 
native of Massachusetts. In 
' that State he received a col- 
legiate education, studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar. 
\)i{^^^}k Removing to Michigan about 
^M Iw ' '^*^ \\xm of its admission to the 
t\ \y \^ Union, he took up his residence 
at Kalamazoo. 

Mr. Ransom served with marked 
ability for a number of years in the 
State Legislature, and in 1837 he was appointed As- 
sociate Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1843 he 
was promoted to Chief Justice, which office he re- 
tained until 1845, when he resigned. 

Shortly afterwards he became deeply interested in 
the building of plank roads in the western portion of 
the State, and in this business lost the greater portion 
of the property wliich he had accumulated by years 
of toil and industry. 

Mr. Ransom became Governor of the State of 
Michigan in the fall of 1847, and served during one 
term, performing the duties of the office in a truly 
statesmanlike manner. He subsequently became 
President of the Michigan Agricultural Society, in 
which ix)sition he displayed the same ability that 




shone forth so prominently in his acts as Governor. 
He iield the office of Regent of the Michigan Univer- 
sity several times, and ever advocated a liberal f»licy 
in its management. 

Subsequently he was a|)[)ointed receiver of the 
land office in one of the districts in Kansas, by Pres- 
ident Buchanan, to which State he had removed, and 
where he died before the expiration of his term of 
office. 

We sum up the events and affairs of the State un- 
der Gov. Ransom's administration as follows: The 
Asylum for the Insane was establised, as also the 
Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. Both of 
these institutes were liberally endowed with lands, 
and each of them placed in charge of a board of five 
trustees. The appropriation in 1849 for the deaf and 
dumb and blind amounted to $81,500. On the first 
of March, 1848, the first telegraph line was com- 
pleted from New York to Detroit, and the first dis- 
patch transmitted on that day. The followmg figures 
show the progress in agriculture : The land reported 
as under cultivation in 1848 was 1,437,460 acres; of 
wheat there were produced 4,749,300 Ijushels; other 
grains, 8,197,767 bushels; wool, 1,645,756 pounds; 
maple sugar, 1,774,369 pounds; horses, 52,305; cat- 
tle, 210,268; swine, 152,541; sheep, 610,534; while 
the flour mills numbered 228, and the lumber mills 
amounted to 730. 1847, an act was passed removing 
the Legislature from Detroit to Lansing, and tempo- 
rary buildings for the use of the Legislature were im- 
mediately erected, at a cost of $12,450. 



I 



( 




^ 
•^i' 

^iv 

^ 



K^ll!l^Illlf>^ 





r<4Bn^im^^ 



ry- 






.) 

i 

1 



<> 



'o 




^5 






r^ 



u 



-^^^^ ^?K^Il!l^lDf>^^ ^^€»^ 



^jf® 



"'r ~ ;^^^^:f. 



^w 



"^ 








f 



^^* 



GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



't^\&i 



129 



t 




Sl£iKi£aa£>^ ■'*5=! 




t^^^&^i^^ 



;jvy'^:''^;y-j?yy'jy^i;»^H-yy'y^^^^ 



■caegli ^. 



-^^- laraM) ^iL;a^«i. ^m^o%^ 






>^5|rps^^ 





.) 

> 













OBERT McClelland, 

i'pCiovernor of Michigan from 
Jan. I, 1852,10 March 8, 1853, 
was born at Greencastle, Frank- 
■;@ lin Co., Penn., Aug. i, 1S07. 
Among his ancestors were several 
officers of rank in tlie Revohition- 
ary war, and some of his family con- 
riections were distinguished in the 
war of 1812, and that with Mexico. 
His father was an eminent physician 
and surgeon who studied under Dr. 
Benj. Rush, of Philadelphia, and 
liracticed his profession successfully 
until si.\ months before his death, at 
the age of 84 years. Although Mr. 
McClelland's family had lieen in good circum- 
stances, when he was 17 years old he was thrown 
upon his own resources. After taking the usual pre- 
liminary studies, and teaching school to obtain the 
means, he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, 
Penn., from which he graduated among the first in 
his class, iii 1S29. He then resumed teaching, and 
having completed the course of study for the legal 
profession, was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg, 
Penn., in 1831. Soon afterward he removed to the 
city of Pittsburgh, where he practiced for almost a 
year. 

In 1833, Mr. McClelland removed to Monroe, in 



the Territory of Michigan, where, after a severe ex- 
amination, he became a member of the bar of Michi- 
gan, and engaged in practice with bright prospect of 
success. In 1835, a convention was called to frame 
a constitution for the proposed State of Michigan, of 
which Mr. McClelland was elected a member. He 
took a prominent part in its deliberations and ranked 
among its ablest debaters. He was appointed the 
first Bank Commissioner of the State, by Gov. Mason, 
and received an offer of the Attorney Generalship, but 
declined both of these offices in order to attend to his 
professional duties. 

In 1838, .Mr. McClelland was elected to the State 
Legislature, in which he soon became distinguished 
as tlie head of several imix)rtant committees. Speaker 
pro tempore, and as an active, zealous and efficient 
member. In 1840, Gen. Harrison, as a candidate for 
the Presidency, swept the country with an overwhelm- 
ing majority, and at the same time the State of Michi- 
gan was carried by the Whigs under the popular cry 
of " Woodbrtdge and reform " against the Democratic 
liarty. At this time Mr. McClelland stood among the 
acknowledged leaders of the latter organization ; was 
elected a member of the State House of Representa- 
tives, and with others adopted a plan to regain a lost 
authority and prestige. 

This party soon came again into power in the State, 
and having been returned to the State Legislature Mr. 
McClelland's leadership was acknowledged by his 
election as Speaker of the House of Representatives 






si/ 



t 




'^^^> 



^^i 



-^""C^^^^ ^T^^HIl^llIlf^A^ sijig^r: 





in 1843. Down to this time Michigan had consti- 
tuted one congressional district. The late Hon. Jacob 
M. Howard had been elected against Hon. Alpheus 
Felch by a strong majority ; but, in 1 843, so thoroughly 
, had the Democratic party recovered from its defeat 
(S/ of 1840 that Mr McClelhmd, as a candidate for Con- 
gress, carried Detroit district by a majority of about 
2,500. Mr. McClelland soon took a prominent posi- 
tion in Congress among the veterans of that body 
During his first term he was placed on Committee on 
Commerce, and organized and carried through what 
were known as the " Harbor bills." The continued 
confidence of his constituency was manifested in his 
election to the 29th Congress. At the opening of this 
session he had acquired a National reputation, and so 
favorably was he known as a parlimentarian that his 
name was mentioned for Speaker of the House of Rep- 
resentatives He declined the offer in favor of J. ^^^ 
Davis, of Indiana, who was elected. During this term 
he became Chairman of Committee on Commerce, in 
which position his reports and advocacy of important 
measures at once attracted public attention. The 
members of this committee, as an evidence of the es- 
teem ill which they held his services and of their 
personal regard for him, presented him with a cane 
which he retains as a souvenir of the donors, and of 
his labors in Congress. 

In 1847, M"" McClelland was re-elected to Con- 
gress, and at the opening of the 3olh Congress be- 
came a member of the Committee on Foreign Rela- 
tions. While acting in this capacity, what was known 
as the " French Spoliation Bill" came under his spe- 
cial charge, and his management of the same was such 
as to command universal approbation. While in 
Congress, Mr McClelland was an advocate of the 
right of petition as maintained by John Q Adams, 
when the petition, was clothed in decorous language 
and presented in the proper manner. This he re- 
garded as the citizens'constitutional right which should 
not be impaired by any doctrines of temporary expe- 
diency. He also voted for the adoption of Mr. Gid- 
dings's bill for the abolishing of slavery in the District 
of Columbia Mr McClelland was one of the few 
Democrats associated with David Wilmot, of Penn- 
sylvania, in bringing forward the celebrated "Wilmot 
Proviso,'* with a view to prevent further extension of 
slavery in new terrilorv which might be acquired by 
the United States. He and Mr Wilmot were to- 
gether at the time in Washington, and on intimate 
and confidential terms Mr McClelland was in sev- 
eral National conventions and in the Baltimore con- 
vention, which nominated Gen. Cass for President, 
in 1848, doing valiant service that year for the elec- 
tion of that distinguished statesman. On leaving 
Congress, in 1848, Mr. McClelland returned to the 
practice of his profession at Monroe. In 1850 a 
r-^ convention of the State of Michigan was called to 
^ revise the State constitution. He was elected a 



i 
1 

s 



member and was regarded therein as among the ablest 
and most experienced leaders. His clear judgment 
and wise moderation were conspicuous, both in the 
committee room and on the floorp in debate. In 1850, 
he was President of the Democratic State convention 
which adopted resolutions in supix)rt of Henry Clay's 
famous compromise measures, of which Mr ^IcClel- 
land was a strong advocate. He was a member of 
the Democratic National convention in 1852, and in 
that year, in company with Gen Cass and Governor 
Felch he made a thorough canvass of the State. 
He continued earnestly to advocate the Clay com- 
promise measures, and took an active part in the 
canvass which resulted in the election of Gen Pierce 
to the Presidency. 

In 185 t, the new Stats constitution took effect and 
it was necessary that a Governor should be elected 
for one year in order to prevent an interregnum, and 
to bring the State Government into operation undei 
the new constitution Mr INIcClelland was elected 
Governor, and in the fall of 1852 was re-elected for 
a term of two years, from Jan. i, 1853. His admin- 
istration was regarded as wise, prudent and concilia- 
tor)-, and was as popular as could be expected at a 
time when party spirit ran high There was really 
no opix)sitioii,and when he resigned, in March, 1853, 
the State Treasury was well filled, and the State 
otherwise prosperous. So widely and favorably had 
Mr. McClelland become known as a statesman that on 
the organization of thecabinet by President Pierce, in 
March, 1853, he was made Secretary of the Interior, in 
which capacity he served most creditably during four 
years of the Pierce administration He thoroughly 
re-organized his department and reduced the expend- 
itures. He adopted a course with the Indians which 
relieved them from the impositions and annoyances 
of the traders, and produced harmony and civilization 
among them. During his administration there was 
neither complaint from the tribes nor corruption among 
agents, and he left the department in perfect order 
and system In 1867, Michigan again called a con- 
vention to revise the State constitution, Mr. McClel- 
land was a member and here again his long experi- 
ence made him conspicuous as a prudent adviser, a 
sagacious parliamentary leader. As a lawyer he was 
terse and pointed in argument, clear, candid and im- 
pressive in his addresses to the jury. His sincerity 
and earnestness, with which was occasionally mingled 
a pleasant humor, made him an able and effective 
advocate. In speaking before the people on political 
subjects he was especially forcible and happy. In 
1870 he made the tour of Europe, which, through his 
extensive personal acquaintance with European dip- 
lomates, he was enabled to enjoy much more than 
most travelers 

Mr. McClelland married, in 1837, Miss Sarah 
E. Sabin, of Williamstown, Mass. They have had 
six children two of whom now survive. 



C). 



^ 



c^: 






f 




^(]t|;>L^. 





■^V^-^n 0-^ n l]y>v^^5 ::^&^ 



im 



-l^^«®^-ill 



GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



133 




ANDREW PARSONS. 



g > ^C3 :K 



1?* 



4^ 



a^ 




NDRP:\V parsons, Gover- 
nor of Michinan from March 
8, 1853 to Jan. 3, 1855, was 
liorn in the town of Hoosick, 
County of Rensselaer, and 
State of New York, on the 22d 
day of July, 1817, and died June 
6, 1855, at the early age of 38 
years. He was the son of John 
Parsons, born at Newburyport, 
(Mass., Oct. 2, 1782, and who was the 
sonof Andrew Parsons, a Revolutionary 
soldier, who was the son of Phineas 
Parsons, the son of Samuel Parsons, 
a descendant of Walter Parsons, born 
in Ireland in 1290. 
Of this name and family, some one hundred and 
thirty years ago, Bishop Gilson remarked in his edi- 
^ nion of Camden's Britannia: "The honorable family 
Cjp of Parsons have been advanced to the dignity of 
Viscotints and more lately Earls of Ross." 

The following are descendants of these families : 
Sir John Parsons, born 1 481, was Mayor of Hereford; 
Robert Parsons, born in 1546, lived near Bridgewater, 
England. He was educated at Ballial College, Ox- 
ford, and was a noted writer and defender of the 
Romish faith. He established an English College at 
Rome and another at Valladolia. Frances Parsons, 
born in 1556, was Vicar of Rothwell, in Notingham; 
Bartholomew Parsons, born in 1618, was another 
^ noted member of the family. In 1634, Thomas Parsons 
was knighted by Charles i. Joseph and Benjamin, 
^ brothers, were born in Great Torrington, England, 



^ 



I 




v|) 



and accompanied their father and others lo New 
England about 1630. Samuel Parsons, born at Salis- 
bury, Mass., in 1707, graduated at Harvard College in 
1730, ordained at Rye, N. H.,Nov. 3, 1736, married 
Mary Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones, of Boston, 
Oct. 9, 1739, died Jan. 4, 1789, at the age of 82, in 
the 53rd year of his ministry. The grandfatherof Mary 
Jones was Capt. John Adams, of Boston, grandson 
of Henry, of Braintree, who was among the first set- 
tlers of Massachusetts, and from whom a numerous 
race of the name are descended, including two Presi- 
dents of the United States. The Parsons have be- 
come very numerous and are found throughout New 
England, and many of the descedants are scattered 
in all parts of the United States, and especially in 
the Middle and Western States. Governor Andrew 
Parsons came to Michigan in 1835, at the age of 17 
years, and spent the first summer at Lower Ann 
Arbor, where for a few months he taught school which 
lie was compelled to abandon from ill health 

He was one of the large number of men of sterling 
worth, who came from the East to Michigan when it 
was an infant State, or, even prior to its assuming 
the dignity of a State, and who, by their wisdom, 
enterprise and energy, have developed its wonderful 
natural resources, until to-day it ranks with the [)roud- 
est States of the Union. These brave men came to 
Michigan with nothing to aid them in the conquest 
of the wilderness save courageous hearts and strong 
and willing hands. They gloriously conquered, how- 
ever, and to them is due all honor for the labors 
so nobly performed, for the solid and sure foundation 
which they laid of a great Commonweallh. 



9 



^ 



V) 



a^^'i — %^m'mii> 




-^M k 6^v mrM^i>^ 



-4^^5((svS 



ANDREW PARSONS 



In the fall of 1835, he explored the Grand River 
Valley in a frail canoe, the whole lengtli of tlie river, 
^» from Jackson to Lake Michigan, and spent tlie following 
winter as clerk in a store at Prairie Creek, in Ionia, 
County, and in the spring went to Marshall, where he 
resided with his brother, the Hon. Luke H. Parsons, 
also now deceased, until fall, wlien he went to Shia- 
w"asseCounty,then with Clinton County, and an almost 
unbroken wilderness and constituting one organized 
township. In r837 this territory was organized into 
a county and, at the age of only 19 years, he (An- 
drew) was elected County Clerk. In 1840, he was 
elected Register of Deeds, re-elected in 1842, and 
also in 1844. In 1S46, he was elected to the .State 
Senate, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney in T848, 
and elected Regent of the University in 1851, and 
() Lieutenant (Governor, and became acting Oovernor, 
^ in 1853, elected again to tlie Legislature in 1854, and, 
A^ overcome by debilitated health, hard labor and the 
=3 responsibilities of his office and cares of his business, 
^ retired to his farm, wliere he died soon after. 
?^ He was a fluent and persuasive speaker and well 
jC calculated to make friends of his acquantances. He 
[( -^ was always true to liis triist, and the whole world 
could not persuade nor drive liim to do what he con- 
ceived to be wrong. When Governor, a most power- 
ful railroad influence was brought to bear ujxjn him, 
to induce him to call an extra session of the Legisla- 
ture. Meetings were held in all parts of the .State 
for that purpose. In some sections the resolutions 
were of a laudatory nature, intending to make him do 
their bidding by resort to friendly and flattering words. 
In other places the resolutions were of a demanding 
nature, while in others they were threatening 1 eyond 
measure. Fearing that all these influences might 
fail to induce him to call the e.\tra session, a large 
sum of money was sent him, and liberal offers ten- 
dered him if he would gratify the railroad interest of 
the State and call the e.xtra session, but, immovable, 
he returned the money and refused to receive 
any favois, whether from any party who would at- 
tempt to corrupt him by laudations, liberal offers, or 



(f) 



by threats, and in a short letter to the people, after 
giving overwhelming reasons that no sensible man 
could dispute, showing the circumstances were not 
"e.vtraordinary," he refused to call the extra session. 
This brought down the wrath of various parties upon 
his head, but they were soon forced to acknowledge 
the wisdom and the justice of hii? course. One of 
his greatest enemies said, after a long acquaintance: 
"though not always coinciding with his views 1 never 
doubted his honesty of purpose. He at all times 
sought to perform his duties in strict accordance, 
with the dictates of his conscience, and the behests 
of his oath." The following eulogium from a [lolitcal op- 
ponent is just in its conception and creditable to its 
author: "Gov. Parsons was a politician of the Dem- 
ocratic school, a man of pure moral character, fixed 
and exemplary habits, and entirely blameless in every 
public and private relation of life. As a politician he 
was candid, frank and free from bitterness, as an ex- 
ecutive officer firm, constant and reliable." The 
highest commendations we can pay the deceased is 
to give his just record, — that of being an honest man. 
In the spring of 1854, during the administration of 
Governor Parsons, the Republican party, at least 
as a .State organization, was first formed in the Ihiited 
States " under the oaks " at Jackson, by anti-slavery 
men of both the old parties. Great excitement pre- 
vailed at this time, occasioned by the settling of 
Kansas, and the issue thereby brought u|), whether 
slavery should exist there. For the purpose of permit- 
ting slavery there, the " Missouri compromise " (which 
limited slavery to the south of 36" 30) was re- 
repealed, under the leadership of Stephen .X, Douglas, 
riiis was repealed by a bill admitting Kansas and 
Nebraska into the Union, as Territories, and those who 
were opposed to this repeal measure were in short 
called "anti-Nebraska" men. The epithets, "Ne- 
braska" and "anti-Nebraska," were temporally em- 
ployed to designate the slavery and anti-slavery 
parties, pending the desolution of the old Democratic 
and Whig parties and the organization of the new 
Democratic and Republican parties of the present. 



9 










I 






^^/^^^^^ 



i 



^ 



GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 





% — — ^ 

M KiNSLRY S. BlNOHAM. 







1 
1=3 



t 




iNSLEY s. binc;ham, 

: W Governor of Michigan from 
■ "" 1855 to 1859, and United 
States Senator, was born in 
Camilhis, Onondaga County, 
N. v., Dec. 16, 1808. His 
father was a farmer, and his own 
early Hfe was consequently de- 
voted to agricultural pursuits, but 
notwithstanding the disadvan- 
tages related to the acquisition 
\ '^ of knowledge in the life of a farmer 
he managed to secure a good aca- 
demic education in his native State 
and studied law in the office of 
Gen. James R. Lawrence, now of 
Syracuse, N. Y. In the spring of 
1833, he married an estimable lady 
who had recentl\- arrived from Scot- 
land, and obeying the impulse of a 
naturally enterprising disposition, 
he emigrated to Michigan and 
purchased a new farm in company 
with his brother-in-law, Mr. Robert 
Worden, in Green Oak, Livingston County. Here, on 
the border of civilization, buried in the primeval for- 
est, our late student commenced the arduous task of 
preparing a future home, clearing and fencing, put- 
ting up buildings, etc., at such a rate that the land 



chosen was soon reduced to a high state of cultivation. 

Becoming deservedly prominent, Mr. Bingham was 
elected to the office of Justice of the Peace and Post- 
master under the Territorial government, and was the 
first Probate Judge in the county. In the year 1836, 
when Michigan became a State, he was elected to the 
first Legislature. He was four times re-elected, and 
Speaker of the House of Representatives three years. 
In 1S46 he was elected on the Democratic ticket, Re[> 
resentative to Congress, and was the only practical 
farmer in that body. He was never forgetful of the 
interest of agriculture, and was in particular opiX)sed 
to the introduction of " Wood's Patent Cast Iron 
Plow " which he completely prevented. He was re- 
elected to Congress in r848, during which time he 
strongly opposed the extension of slavery in the 
territory of the United States and was committed to 
and voted for the Wilmot Proviso. 

In r854, at the first organization of the Republican 
party, in conse(iuence of his record in Congress as a 
Free Soil Democrat, Mr. Bingham was nominated 
and elected Governor of the State, and re-elected in 
1856. Still faithful to the memory of his own former 
occupation, he did not forget the farmers during his 
administration, and among other profits of his zeal in 
their behalf, he became mainly instrumental in the 
establishment of the Agricultural College at Lansing. 

In 1^59, Governor Bingham was elected Senator in 
Congress and took an active part in the stormy cam- 
paign in the election of Abraham Lincoln. He wit- 



i 

3=3 



^ 




®))^^^'^ 



.^^^A 



<^Dii$^iin^ 



r^ 



§^^(®y" 





KINSLEY S. BINGHAM. 






1 



nessed the commencement of the civil war while a 
member of the United States Senate. After a com- 
paratively short life of remarkable promise and pub- 
lic activity he was attacked with appoplexy and died 
suddenly at his residence, in Green Oak, Oct. 5, 1861. 

The most noticable event in Governor Bingham's 
first term was the completion of the ship canal, at the 
Falls of St. Mary. In 1852, August 26, an act of 
Congress was approved, granting to the Slate of Mich- 
igan seven hundred and litty thousand acres of land 
for the purpose of constructing a ship canal between 
Lakes Huron and Superior. In 1853, the Legislature 
accepted the grant, and provided tor the appointment 
of commissioners to select the donated lands, and to 
arrange for building the canal. A company of enter- 
prising men was formed, and a contract was entered 
into by which it was arranged that the canal should 
be finished in two years, and the work was pushed 
rapidly forward. Every article of consumption, ma- 
chinery, working implements and materials, timber 
for the gates, stones for the locks, as well as men and 
supplies, had to be transported to the site of the canal 
from Detroit, Cleveland, and other lake ports. The 
rapids which had to be surmounted have a fall of 
seventeen feet and are about one mile long. The 
length of the canal is less than one mile, its width one 
hundred feet, depth twelve feet and it has two locks 
of solid masonary. In May, 1855, the work was com- 
pleted, accepted by the commissioners, and formally 
delivered to the State authorities. 

The disbursements on account of the construction 
of the canal and selecting the lands amounted to one 
million of dollars ; while the lands which were as- 
signed to the company, and selected through the 
agency at the Sault, as well as certain lands in the 
Upper and Lower Peninsulas, filled to an acre the 
Government grant. The opening of the canal was 
an important event in the history of the improvement 
of the State. It was a valuable link in the chain of 
lake commerce, and particularly important to the 
interests of the LTpper Peninsula. 

There were several educational, charitable and re- 
formatory institutions inaugurated and opened during 
Gov. Bingham's administrations. The Michigan Ag- 
ricultural College owes its establishment to a provision 
of the State Constitution of 1850. Article 13 says, 
" The Legislature shall, as soon as practicable, pro- 
vide for the establishment of an agricultural school." 
For the purpose of carving into practice this provision, 
legislation was commenced in 1855, and the act re- 
quired that the school should be within ten miles of 
Lansing, and that not more than $15 an acre should 
be paid for the farm and college grounds. The col- 
lege was opened to students in May, 1857, the first of 
existing argricultural colleges in the United States, 
Until the spring of i86i,«it was under the control 
of the State Board of Education; since that time it 
has been under the management of the State Board 



@! 






}f\®^^^^ 



■A^DIl^Olli^ 



of .\griculture, which was created for that purpose. 

In its essential features, of combining study and 
labor, and of uniting general and professional studies 
in its course, the college has remained virtually un- 
changed from the first. It has a steady growth in 
number of students, in means of illustration and 
efficiency of instruction. 

The Agricultural College is three miles east of 
Lansing, comprising several fine buildings; and there 
are also very beautiful, substantial residences for the 
professors. There are also an extensive, well-filled 
green-house, a very large and well-equipped chemical 
laboratory, one of the most scientific apiaries in the 
United States, a general museum, a meseuni of me- 
chanical inventions, another of vegetable products, 
extensive barns, piggeries, etc., etc., in fine trim for 
the purposes designed. The farm consists of 676 
acres, of which about 300 are undei" cultivation in a 
systematic rotation of crops. 

Adrian College was established by the Wesleyan 
Methodists in 1859, now under the control of the 
Methodist Church. The grounds contain about 20 
acres. There are four buildings, capable of accom- 
modating about 225 students. Attendance in 1875 
was 179; total number of graduates for previous year, 
121 ; ten professors and teachers are enqiloyed. Ex- 
clusive of the endowment fund ($80,000), the assets 
of the institution, including grounds, buildings, furni- 
ture, apparatus, musical instruments, outlying lands, 
etc., amount to more than $137,000. 

Hillsdale College was established in 1855 by the 
Free Baptists. The Michigan Central College, at 
Spring Arbor, was incorporated in 1845 It was kept 
in operation until it was merged into the present 
Hillsdale College. The site comprises 25 acres, 
beautifully situated on an eminence in the western 
part of the city of Hillsdale. The large and impos- 
ing building first erected was nearly destroyed by fire 
in 1874, and in its place five buildings of a more 
modern style have been erected. They are of brick, 
three stories with basement, arranged on three sides 
of a quadrangle. The size is, respectively, 80 by 80, 
48 by 7 2, 48 by 7 2, 80 by 60, 52 by 72, and they con- 
tain one-half more room than the original buildmg. 
The State Reform School. This was established 
at Lansing in 1855, in the northeastern ]X)rtionof the 
city, as the House of Correction for Juvenile Of- 
fenders, having about it many of the features of a 
prison. In 1859 the name was changed to the State 
Reform School. The government and dicipline, have 
undergone many and radical changes, until all the 
prison features have been removed except those that 
remain in the walls of the original structure, and 
which remain only as monuments of instructive his- 
tory. No bolts, bars or guards are employed. The 
inmates are necessarily kept under the surveillance of 
officers, but the attempts at escape are much fewer 
than under the more rigid regime of former days. 






n£> 



(', 



is 



'P^S^. 




> 



f 




OSES WISNER. Governor of 

'-'^_^ Michigan from 185910 1861, 
I ,:)f'\vas horn in Springport, Cayu- 
gJ] ga Co., N Y., June 3, 1815. 
^^Sli His early education was only 
what could be obtained at a 
^common school. .Agricultural labor 
and frugality of his parents gave 
him a physical constitution of unus- 
h ual strength and endurance, which 
Swas ever preserved by temperate hab- 
its. In 1837 he emigrated to Michi- 
an and purchased a farm in Lapeer 
County It was new land and he at 
$,-k once set to work to clear il and i)lant 
■* crops. He labored diligently at his 
task for two years, when he gave up 
the idea of neing a farmer, and removed to Pontiac, 
Oakland Co. Here he commenced the study of law 
in the office of his brother, George \V. Wisner, and 
Rufus Hosmer In 1841 he was admitted to the bar 
and established himself in his new vocation at the 
village of Lapeer. While there he was apppointed 
by Gov. Woodbridge Prosecuting Attorney for that 
county, in which capacity he acquitted, himself well 
and gave promise of that eminence he afterward at- 
tained in the profession. He remained at Lapeer but 
a short time, renroving to Pontiac, where he became 
a member of a firm and entered fully upon the 
practice. 

In politics he was like his talented brother, a Whig 
of the Henry Clay stamp, but with a decided anti- 
slaver) bias. His practice becoming extensive, he 




took little part in politics until after the election of 
Mr. Pierce to the Presidency in 1S52, wlien lie took an 
active part against slavery. As a lawyer he was a 
man of great ability, but relied less upon mere book 
learning than upon his native good sense. Liberal 
and courteous, was he yet devoted to the interest of 
his client, and no facts escaped his attention or his 
memory which bore upon the case. He was no friend 
of trickei)' or artifice in conducting a case As an ad- 
vocate he had few equals. When fully aroused by the 
merits of his subject his eloquence was at once grace- 
ful and powerful. His fancies supplied the most 
original, the most ix)inted illustrations, and his logic 
became a battling giant under whose heavy blows the 
adversary shrank and withered. Nature had be- 
stowed upon him rare qualities, and his powers as a 
]X)pular orator were of a high order. 

On the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 
1854, reiiealing the Missouri compromise andoiiening 
the Territories to slavery, he was among the foremost 
in Michigan to denounce the shamful scheme. He 
actively participated in organizing and consolidating 
the elements opposed to it in that State, and was a 
member of the popular gathering at Jackson, in July, 
1854, which was the first formal Republican Conven- 
tion held in the United States. At this meeting the 
name " Republican " was adopted as a designation of 
the new party consisting of Anti-slavery, Whigs, 
Liberty men. Free Soil Democrats and all others dp- 
posed to the extension of slavery and favorable to its 
expulsion from the Territories and the District of 
Columbia. At this convention Mr. W. was urged to 
acceyrt the nomination for Attorney General of the 



I 






^=^^^ @r^Il!l®D(li^ 




w 




MOSF.S n'JSNF.R. 



^^^^^\^0i 






:^o 



V 





I 



State, but declined. An entire State ticket was nom- 
inated and at the annual election in November was 
elected 1>\ an average majority ol nearly 10,000. 
Mr. \\'. was enthusiastic in the cause and brought to 
its support all his personal influence and talents. In 
his views he was bold and radical. He believed from 
the beginning that the political power of the slave- 
holders would have to be overthrown before quiet 
could be secured to the country. In the Presidential 
canvass of 1856 he supported the Fremont, or Re- 
publican, ticket. At the session of the Legislature of 
1857 he was a candidate for United States Senator, 
and as such received a very handsome svipport. 

In 1858, he was nominated for Governor of the 
State by the Republican convention that met at De- 
troit, and at the subsequent November election was 
chosen by a very large majority. Before the day of 
the election he had addressed tlie people of almost 
every county and his majority was greater even than 
that of his popular predecessor, Hon. K. S. Bingham. 
He served as Clovernor two years, from Jan. i, 1859, 
to ]ax\. I, 1 86 1. His first message to the Legislature 
was an able and statesman-like production, and was 
read with usual favor. It showed that he was awake 
to all the interests of the State and set forth an en- 
lightened State policy, that had its view of the rapid 
settlement of our uncultivated lands and the devel- 
opment of our immense agricultural and mineral re- 
sources. It was a dotument that retlecled the higliest 
credit upon the author. 

His term having expired Ian. i, 186 [, he returned 
to his home in Pontiac, and to the practice of his 
profession. There were those in the State who 
counselled the sending of delegates to the peace con- 
ference at Washington, but Mr. VV. was opposed to all 
such tentporizing expedients. His counsel was to 
send no delegate, but to prepare to fight. 

After Congress had met and passed the necessary 
legislation he resolved to take part in the war. In 
the spring and summer of 1862 he set to work to 
raise a regiment of infantry, chiefly in Oakland 
County, where he resided. His regiment, the 22d 
Michigan, was armed and equipped and ready to 
march in September, a regiment whose solid quali- 
ties were afterwards proven on many a bloody field. 
Col. Ws. commission bore the date of Sept. 8, 1 862. 
Before parting with his family he made his will. His 
regiment was sent to Kentucky and quartered at 




Camp Wallace. He had at the breaking out of the 
war turned his attention to military studies .uui Ije- 
came proficient in tlie ordinary rules and discipline. 
His entire attention was now devoted to his duties. 
His treatment of his men was kind, thougji his disci- 
pline was rigid. He possessed in an eminent degree 
the spirit of command, and had he lived he would 
no doubt liave distinguished himself as a good 
officer. He was impatient of delay and chafed at 
l)eing kept in Kentucky where there was so little 
prospect of getting at the enemy. Hut life in cam 
so different from the one he had been leading, and 
his incessant labors, coupled with that impatience 
which was so natural and so general among the vol- 
unteers in the early |>art of the war, soon made their 
influence felt upon his health. He was seized with 
typhoid fever and removed to a private house near 
Lexington. Every care which medical skill or the 
hand of friendship could bestow was rendered him. 
In the delirious wanderings of his mind he was dis- 
ciplining his men and urging them to be prepared for 
an encounter with the enemy, enlarging upon the jus- 
tice of their cause and the necessity of their crush- 
ing the Rebellion. But the source of his most poig- 
nant gnet was the jirospect of not being able to come 
to a hand-to-hand encounter with the "chivalry." 
He was proud of his regiment, and felt that if it could 
find the enemy it would cover itself with glory, — a 
distinction it afterward obtained, but not until Col W. 
was no more. The malady bafiled all medical treat- 
ment, and on the 5th day of Jan., 1S63, he breathed 
his last. His remanis were removed to Michigan and 
interred in the cemetery at Pontiac, where they rest 
by the side of the brave (ien. Richardson, who re- 
ceived his mortal wound at tlie battle of Antietam. 
Col. W. was no adventurer, although he was doubtless 
ambitious of military renown and would have striven 
for it with characteristic energy. He went to the war 
to defend and uphold the principles he had so much 
at heart. Few men were more familiar than he with 
the causes and the underlying principles that led to 
the contest. He left a wife, who was a daughter of 
Ctcu. C. C. Hascall, of Flint, and four children to 
mourn his loss. Toward them he ever showed the 
tenderest regard. Next to his duty their love and 
welfare engrossed his thoughts. He was kind, gen- 
erous and brave, and like thousands of others he 
sleeps the sleep of the martyr for his country. 




(^ 



^ 






^' 



m^<> 



A. 



.^f^^ri 







^> 



GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



^— 



'45 



% 



1) 






V 



-^ 







v^ 



;f. • ■ 



\r^P2)''"-'^--'*'--'^'"^«-'*'--'l^'-'^'''-'fe"t>d-».tv;K-A . 





'-J- 




m 



USTIN ULAIR, Governor 
of Micliigan from Jan. 2, 
i86r, to Jan. 4, 1865, and 
kown as the War (iovernor, is 
and illustration of the benifi- 
cent influence of republican in- 
stitutions, having inherited neith- 
er fortune nor fame. He was born 
in a log caliin at Caroline, Tomp- 
kins Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 181 8. 
His ancestors came from Scot- 
land in the time of Ceorge I, and 
for many generations followed the 
W pursuit of agriculture. His father, 
I George Blair, settled in Tompkins 
County in i8og, and felled the trees and erected the 
first cabin in the county. The last 60 of the four- 
sc'ore years of his life were spent on that spot. He 
married Rhoda Beackman, who now sleeps with him 
in the soil of the old homestead. The first 17 years 
of Mr. Blair's life were spent there, rendering his 
father what aid he could upon the farm. He then 
spent a year and a half in Cazenovia Seminary pre- 
paring for college; entered Hamilton College, in 
Clinton, prosecuted his studies initil the middle of 
the junior year, when, attracted by the fame of Dr. 
Nott, he changed to Union College, from whicli he 
graduated in the class of 1839. Upon leaving col- 
lege Mr. Blair read law two years in the office of Sweet 
& Davis, Oswego, N Y., and was admitted to practice 



in 1841, and the same year moved to Michigan, locat 

^^$^#« ^ ^T-. Q^^m w^'^>^^^ 



ing in Jackson. During a temporary residence in 
Eaton Rapids, in 1842, he was elected Clerk of Eaton 
County. At the close of the official term he returned to 
Jackson, and as a Whig, zealously espoused the cause 
of Henry Clay in the campaign of 1844. Hewas chosen 
Representative to the Legislature in 1845, at which 
session, as a member of the Judiciary Committee, he 
rendered valuable service in the revision of the gen- 
eral statutes ; also made an able supix)rt in favor of 
abolishing the color distinction in relation to the elec- 
tive franchise, and at the same session was active in 
securing tlie abolition of capital punishment. In 1848 
Mr. Blair refused longer to affiliate with the Whig 
party, because of its refusial to endorse in convention 
any anti-slavery sentiment. He joined the Free-soil 
movement, and was a delegate to their convention 
which nominated Van Buren for President that year. 
UiX)n the birth of the Republican party at Jackson, 
in 1854, by the coalition of the Whig and Free-soil 
elements, Mr. Blair was in full sympathy with the 
movement, and acted as a memlierof the Committee 
on Platform. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney 
of Jackson County in 1852 ; was chosen State Senator 
two years later, taking his seat with the incoming Re- 
pulilican administration of 1855, and holding the 
imsition of parliamentary leader in the Senate. He 
was a delegate to the National Convention which 
nominated Abraham Lincoln in i860. Mr. Blair 
was elected Governor of Michigan in i860, and re- 
elected in 1862, faithfully and honorably discharging 
the nrdunns dutio= nf the office during that most mo- 









^ 



X 








:^ 



r^^^K — ^v^>ii n;^: n h>T- 



r2^^^^ 



-4^^ 



A [/ST/AT BLAIR. 



<h 



A 



(5) 



ineiUous and stoniiy period nt ilie Nation's life. (lov. 
Blair jjossessed u clear comprehension of tlie perilous 
situation from the inception of tlie Rebellion, and his 
inaugural address foreshadowed the prompt executive 
policy and the administrative ability which charac- 
terized his gubernatorial career. 

Never perhaps in the history of a nation has a 
brighter example been laid down, or a greater sacri- 
fice been made, than that which distinguished Mich- 
igan durini; the civil war. .Ml, froni the "War (lov- 
ernor." down to the poorest citizen of the State, were 
animated with a patriotic ardor at once magniticicntly 
sublime and wisely directed. 

Very early in \%(i\ the coming struggle cast its 
shadow over the Nation. Governor Blair, in his mes- 
sage to the Legislature in January of that year, dwelt 
very forcibly uiwn the sad prospects of civil war; and 
as fonibly pledged the State to support tlie iirinciples 
of the Ropulihi:. After .1 review of the conditions 
of the .State, he passed on to a consideration of the 
relations between the free and slave Slates of the 
Republic, saying: " Wliile we arecitizensof the State 
of Michigan, and as such deeply devoted to her in- 
terests and honor, we have a still prouder title. We 
are also citizeas of the United States of America. By 
this title we are known among the nations of the earth. 
In remote tpiarters of the globe, where the iiames of 
the States are unknown, the flag of the great Republic, 
the banner of the stars and stripes, honor and protect 
her citizens. In wliatever concerns the honor, the 
prosperity and tlie perpetuity of this great (lovern- 
ment, we are deeply interested. The people of Mich- 
igan are loyal to that (Government — faithful to its con- 
stitution and its laws. Under it they have had peace 
and prosperity; ami under it tliey mean to abide to 
the end. Feeling a just pride in the glorious history 
of the past, they will not renounce the eciually glo- 
rious hopes of the future, lint they will rally around 
the standards of the Nation and defend its integrity 
and its constitution, with fidelity." The final para- 
graph being: 

" I recommend you at ,in early day to make mani- 




fest to the gentlemen wiio represent this State in the 
two Houses of Congress, and to tlie country, that 
Michigan is loyal to the Union, the Constitution, and 
the laws and will defend tlieni to the uttermost; and 
to proffer to the President of the United States, the 
whole military power of tlie .State for that |jur[X)se. 
( )h, for tlie lirni, steady hand of a Washington, or a 
Jackson, to guide the ship of State in this perilous 
storm ! Let us hope that we will find him on the 4th 
of March. Meantime, let us .abide in the faith of our 
fathers — ' Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, 
now and forever. 

How this stirring appeal was res]x)nded to by the 
pcopli' of Michigan will be seen by the statement 
that the State furnished 88,1 11 men during the war. 
Money, men, clothing and food were freely and abun- 
dantly supplied by this .State during all these years of 
darkness anti blooil shed. No State won a briuliter ;. 
record for her devotion to our country tliaii the I'en- ^ 
insula State, and to Gov. Blair, more than to any ,«a» 

.... . . . 'A 

other individual is due the credit for its untiring zeal = 
and labors in the Nation's behalf, ami for the heroism ^S 
manifested in its defense. < 

(kiv. Blair was elected Representative to the ( 
Fortieth Congress, and twice re-elected, to the Forty- 
first and Forty-second Congress, from the Third Dis- 
trict of Michigan. While a member of that bodv he 
was a strong supporter of reconstruction measures, 
and sternly opposed every form of repudiation. His 
speech ujxjn the national finances, delivered on the 
lloor of the House March 21, 186S, was a clear and 
convincing argument. Since his retirement from Con- 
gress, Mr. Blair has been busily occupied with his ex- 
tensive law practiie. Mr. Blair married Sarah L. 
I'ord, of Seneca County N. V., in Februarv, 1849- 
Their family consists of 4 sons — George H., a law (^ 
partner of \. J. Gould ; Charles .\., a law partner with 
hir father, and Fred. J. and Austin T. Blair, at home. 
Governor Blair's religion is of the broad type, and 
centers in the "Golden Rule." In 1883, Gov. Blair 
was nominated for Justice of the Supreme Court 
of the State by the Republican party, but was defeated. 



(^ 



• >Xv<g fr^ 



>r>.„i^in7' 



.1^; 



<:|] n :^ IIDi>^ :svf?^(^ 




^V<^^IlIl*^Illl^>r 



GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 




-^^^^^M} 






149 



HENRY K. CBilPO.. 








> 



/- 



^ 

s 



V ■'.3 

I 




ENRY ROWLAND CRAPO, 

(lovcrnor of Michigan from 
';4S"'iS65 to 1869, was born May 



24, 1804, at Dartmouth, Bris- 
~i~. tol C"o., Mass., and died at 
Flint, Mich., July 22, 1869. 
He was the eldest son of Jesse 
and Phctlie (Rowland) Crapo. 
His fatlier was of French descent 
and was very poor, sustaining his 
family by tlie cultivation of a farm in 
Dartmouth township, which yielded 
nothing beyond a mere livelihood. 
His early life was consequently one 
(5if3 of toil and devoid of advantages for 
i intellectual culture, but his desire for 
an education seemed to know no bounds. The in- 
cessant toil for a mere subsistence upon a compara- 
tively sterile farm, had no charm for him ; and, longing 
for greater usefulness and better things, he looked for 
ihem in an education. His struggles to secure this 
end necessitated sacrifices and hardships that would 
have discouraged any but the most courageous and 
persevering. He liecame an ardent student and 
worker from his boyhood, though the means of carry- 
ing on his studies were e.xceedingly limited. He 
sorely felt the need of a dictionary; and, neither having 
money wherewith to purchase it, nor being able to 
|)rocure one in his neighliorliood, he set out to compile 
one for himself. In order to acquire a knowledge of 
the English language, he copied into a book every 
word whose meaning he did not comprehend, and 
upon meeting the same word again in the newspapers 
an<i bnoks, which came into his hands, from the 




context, would then record the definition. Whenever 
unable otherwise to olitain tlie signification of a word 
in which he liad become interested he would walk 
from Dartmoutli to New Bedford for tliat purpose 
alone, and after referring to tlie books at the library 
and satisfynig himself thorouglily as to itsdeiinition, 
would walk back, a distance of about seven miles, 
the same night. This was no unusual circumstance. 
Under such difticulties and in this manner lie com- 
piled (piite an extensive dictionary in manuscript 
which is believed to be still in' existence. 

Ever in pursuit of knowledge, he obtained jxDsses- 
sion of a book upon surveying, and applying himself 
diligently to its study Ijecame familiar with this art, 
which lie soon had an opportunity to practice. Tlie 
services of a land surveyor were wanted, and he was 
called upon, but had no compass and no money with 
which to purchase one. A compass, however, he 
must and would have, and going to a blacksmith shop 
near at hand, uixin the forge, with such tools as he 
could find in the shop, wliile the smith was at dinner, 
he constructed the compass and commenced life as a 
surveyor. Still continuing his studies, he fitted him- 
self for teaching, and took charge of the village school 
at Dartmouth. When, in the course of time and un- 
der the pressure of law, a high school was to be 
opened, he passed a successful examination for its 
principalship and received the appointment. To do 
this was no small task. The law required a rigid 
examination in various subjects, which necessitated 
days and nights of study. ( )ne evening, after con- 
cluding his day's labor of teaching, he traveled on foot 
to New Bedford, some seven or eight miles, called 
upon the preceptor of Friend's Academy and passed 



9 

i 



11 



M 



^^^^ 



jsj^g,r^_Q^^fi^IIIjgnpi^>-£^^ ^sj^^n 





^^^ 



-^^^ — 6V4^tl 11^:11 llf>r 



^ 



-#^f®A-^ 



HENRY ROWLAND CRAPO. 



:0 

1 

V 



a severe examination. Receiving a certificate that 
lie was qualified, he walked back to his home the 
same night, highly elated in being possessed of the 
acquirements and requirements of a master of the 
high school. 

In 1832, at the age of 28 years, he left his native 
town and went to reside at New Bedford, where he 
followed the occupation of land surveyor, and oc- 
casionally acted as an auctioneer. Soon after becom- 
ing a citizen of this place, he was elected Town Clerk, 
Treasurer, and Collector of ta.xes, which office he held 
until the municipal government was changed, — about 
fifteen years, — when,- upon the inauguration of the city 
government, he was elected Treasurer and Collector 
of taxes, a position which he held two or three years. 
He was also Justice of the Peace for many years. 
He was elected Alderman of New Bedford ; was 
Chairman of Council Committee on Education, and 
as such prepared a report ujwn which was based the 
order for the establishment of the free Public Library 
of New Bedford. On its organization, Mr. Crapo was 
chosen a member of the Board of Trustees. This 
was the first free public lil.irary in Massachusetts, if 
not in the world. The Boston Free Library was es- 
tablished, however, soon afterwards. While a resident 
in New Bedford, he was much interested in horticul- 
ture, and to obtain the land necessary for carrying out 
his ideas he drained and reclaimed several acres of 
rocky and swampy land adjoining his garden. Here 
he started a nursery, which he filled with almost every 
description of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, 
flowers, etc. In this he was very successful and took 
great pride. He was a regularcontributorto the New 
England Horticultural Journal, a position he filled 
as long as he lived in Massachusetts. As an indica- 
tion of the wide reputation he acipiired in that field 
of labor, it may be mentioned that after his death an 
affecting eulogy to his memory was pronounced by the 
President of the National Horticultural Society at its 
meeting in Philadeliihia, in iS^g. During his resi- 
dence in New Bedford, Mr. Crapo was also engaged 
in the whaling business. .\ fine barque built at Dart- 
mouth, of which he was part owner, was named tlie 
"H. H. Crapo" in compliment to him. 

Mr. C. also took [)art in the State Militia, and for 
several years held a commission as Colonel of one of 
the regiments. He was President of the Bristol 
County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and Secretary of 
the Bedford Conmiercial Insurance Company in New 
Bedford; and while an officer of the municipal gov- 
ernment hecompiled and published, between the years 
1S36 and 1845, fi^*^ numbers of the New Bedford 
Directory, the first work of the kind ever published 
there. 

Mr. C. removed to Michigan in 1856, having been 
induced to do so by investments made principallv in 
pine lands, first in 1837 and subsequently in 1856. 
He took up his residence in the city of Flint, and en- 



gaged largely in the manufacture and sale of lumber 
at Flint, Kentonville, Holly and Detroit, becoming 
one of the largest and most successful business men 
of the State. He was mainly instrumental in the 
construction of the Flint & Holly R. R., and was 
President of that corporation until its consolidation 
with the Flint & Pere Marquette R. R. Company. 
He was elected iSLayor of that city after he had been 
a resident of the [ilace only five cr six years. Li 
1862 he was elected Stale Senator. In the fall of 
1864 he received the nomination on the Republican 
ticket forCioveriior of the State, and was elected by a 
large majority. He was re-elected in 1866, holding 
the office two terms, and retiring in January, 1869, 
having given the greatest satisfaction to all parties. 

While serving his last term he was attacked with a 
disease which terminated his life within one year 
afterwards. During much of this time he was an in- 
tense sufferer, yet often while in great pain gave his 
attention to jiublic matters. A few weeks previous 
to his death a successful surgical operation was jier- 
formed which seemed rapidly to restore him, but he 
overestimated his strength, and by too much exertion 
in business matters and State affairs suffered arelapse 
from which there was no rebound, and he died July 
il., 1869. 

Li the early part of his life. Gov. Crapo affiliated 
with the \Vhig party in politics, Init became an active 
member of the Republican party after its organization. 
He was a member of the Christian (sometimes called 
the Disciples') Church, and took great interest in its 
welfare and prosperity. 

Mr. C. married, June 9, 1S25, Mary A. Slocum, 
of Dartmouth. His marriage took place soon after 
he had attained his majority, and before his struggles 
with fortune had lieen rewarded with any great meas- 
ure of success. But his wife was a woman of great 
strength of character and possessed of courage, hope- 
fulness and devotion, qualities which sustained and 
encouraged h.er husband in the various pursuits of 
his early years. For several years after his marriage 
he was engaged in teaching school, his wife living 
with her parents at the time, at whose home his two 
older children were born. While thus situated he 
was accustomed to walk home on Saturday to see 
his family, returning on Sunday in order to be ready 
for school Monday morning. As the walk for a good 
part of the time was 20 miles each way, it is evident 
that at that period of his life no common obstacles 
deterred him from performing what he regarded 
as. a duty. His wife was none the less consci- 
entious in her sphere, and with added responsibilities 
and increasing reipiirements she labored faithfully 
in the perfonnance of all her duties. They had 
ten children, one son and nine daughters. His son, 
Hon. \\m. W. Crapo, of New Bedford, is now an 
honored Representative to Congress from the First 
Congressional District of Massachusetts. 



€- 



9 



'A 



■^ 



r 




■^^^^^ %^^llll'^1lti;i>-^-^ .-^s^C^^ 





^^<l^^ ^ c^c;^.^^ 



I I lill'lllllll IHHlll |i. 




GO VF.RNGRS OF MICHIGAN. 






f^ 



j£S(?-«MC/©'^''*e*asset-.afiSl^tMt:!irf 4 ',>;^ 



«^«-x«Jl£a'®f£- 






l^gP^ <"'^'**"S«'©^SWJ3Wn~%Sf 









) 




ENRY P. BALDWIN, Gov- 
ernor of Michigan from Jan. 
1869, to Jan. I, 1873, is a 
lineal descendant of Nathan- 
iel Baldwin, a Puritan, of Buck- 
inghamshire, England, who set- 
tled at Milford, Conn., in 1639. 
His father was John Baldwin, 
a graduate of Dartmouth Col- 
lege. He died at North Provi- 
dence, R. I., in 1826. His 
paternal grandfather was Rev. 
Moses Baldwin, a graduate of 
Princeton College, in 1757, and the 
first who received collegiate hon- 
ors at that ancient and honored institution. He died 
at Parma, Mass., in 1813, where for more than 50 
years he had been pastor of the Presbyterian Church. 
On his mother's side Governor B. is descended from 
Robert Williams, also a Puritan, who settled in Rox- 
l)ury, Mass., about 1638. His mother was a daughter 
of Rev. Nehemiah Williams, a graduate of Harvard 
College, who died at Brimfield, Mass., in 1796, where 
tor 21 years he was pastor of the Congregationalist 
Church. The subject of this sketch was born at 
Coventry, R. I., Feb. 22, 18 14. He received a New 
England common-school education until the age of 
12 years, when, both his parents having died, he be- 
came a clerk in a mercantile establishment. He re- 
mained there, employing his leisure hours in studv, 
^ until 20 years of age. 

"1 At this early period Mr. B. engaged in business on 

}.^ his own account. He made a visit to the West, in 
;^) 1837) which resulted in his removal to Detroit in the 
^ spring of 1838. Here he established a mercantile 
"^ house which has been successfully conducted until 
the present time. Although he successfully conducted 



? 

^ 



a large business, he has ever taken a deep interest in 
all things affecting the prosperity of the city and 
State of his adoption. He was for several years a 
Director and President of the Detroit Young Men's 
Society, an institution with a large library designed 
for the benefit of young men and citizens generally. 
.\n Episcopalian in religious belief, he has been 
prominent in home matters connected with that de- 
nomination. The large and flourishing parish of St. 
John, Detroit, originated with Governor Baldwin, who 
gave the lot on which the parish edifice stands, and 
also contributed the larger share of the cost of their 
erection. Governor B. was one of the foremost in 
the establishment of St. Luke's Hospital, and has 
always been a liberal contributor to moral and relig- 
ious enterprises whether connected with his own 
Church or not. There have been, in fact, but few 
public and social improvements of Detroit during the 
past 40 years with which Governor B.'s name is not 
in some way connected. He was a director in the 
Michigan State Bank until the expiration of its char- 
ter, and has been President of the Second National 
Bank since its organization. 

In 1S60, Mr. Baldwin was elected to the State 
Senate, of Michigan ; during the years of iS6i-'2 he 
was made Chairman of the Finance Committee, a 
member of Committee on Banks and Incorporations, 
Chairman of the Select Joint Committee of the two 
Houses for the investigation of the Treasury Depart- 
ment and the official acts of the Treasurer, and of 
the letting of the contract for the improvement f>f 
Sault St. Marie Ship Canal. He was first elected 
Governor in 1868 and was re-elected in 1870, serving 
from 1S69 to 1872, inclusive. It is no undeserved 
eulogy to say that Governor B.'s happy faculty of es- 
timating the necessary means to an end — the knowing 
of how much effort or attention to bestow upon the 
thing in hand, has been the secret of the uniform 



o, 



^ 






^ 



(^ 



^[\®^^0^ 



_Nrn>, /'^,Tjfi:^_ 



-^^Il!l^lltlf> 



-iVo- 



-4^^^(®>ite 



154 • 



;^ 



rC>BP^IDy> 



HENR V p. BALD WIN. 



-2K«^^^ 



-*'f?;g^^ 



^^^ 









success that has attended his efforts in all relations 
of life. The same industry and accuracy that dis- 
tinguished him prior to this term as Governor was 
manifest in his career as the chief magistrate of the 
State, and while his influence appears in all things 
with which he has had to do, it is more noticeable in 
the most prominent position to which he was called. 
With rare exceptions the important commendations 
of Governor B. received the sanction of the Legislat- 
ure. During his administration marked improve- 
ments were made in the charitable, penal and reforma- 
tory institutions of the State. The State Public School 
for dependent cliildren was founded and a permanent 
commission for the supervision of the several State 
institutions. The initiatory steps toward building the 
Eastern Asylum for the Insane, the State House of 
Correction, and the establishment of the State Board 
of Health were recommended by Governor B. in his 
messa;j,e of 1873. The new State C'apitol also owes 
its origen to him. The appropriation for its erection 
was made u])on his recommendation, and the contract 
for the entire work let under this administration. 
Governor B. also appointed the commissioners under 
whose faithful supervision the building was erected in 
a manner most satisfactory to the people of the State. 
He advised and earnestly urged at different times 
such amendments of the constitution as would per- 
mit a more equitable compensation to State officers 
and judges. Thelaw of 1869, and prior also, permitting 
municipalities to vote aid toward the construc- 
tion of railroads was, in 1870, declared unconstitu- 
tional by the Supreme Court. Many of the munici- 
palities having in the meantime issued and sold their 
bonds in good faith. Governor B. felt that the lionor 
and credit of the State were in jeopardy. His sense 
of justice impelled him to call an extra session of the 
Legislature to propose the submission to the people a 
constitutional amendment, authorizing the payment 
of such bonds as were already in tlie hands of hona- 
fidc holders. In his special message he says : "The 
credit of no State stands liigher than that of Michigan, 
and the people can not afford, and I trust will not 
consent, to have her good name tarnished by the repu- 
diation of either legal or moral obligations." A spe- 
cial session was called in March, 1872, principally for 
the division of the State into congressional districts. 
A number of other important suggestions were made, 
however, and as an evidence of the Governor's la- 
borious and thoughtful care for the financial condition 



of the State, a series of tables was prepared and sub- 
mitted by him showing, in detail, estimates of receipts, 
expenditures and appropriations for the years 1872 to 
1878, inclusive. Memorable of Governor B.'s admin- 
istration were the devastating fires which swept over 
many portions of the Northwest in the fall of 187 i. 
A large part of the city of Chicago having been re- 
duced to ashes, Governor B. promptly issued a proc- 
lamation calling ufjon the people of Michigan for 
liberal aid in behalf of the afflicted city. Scarcely had 
this been issued when several counties in his State 
were laid waste by the same destroying element. 
A second call was made asking assistance for the suf- 
fering people of Michigan. The contributions for 
these objects were prompt and most liberal, more than 
:«!7oo,ooo having been received in money and supplies 
lor the relief of Michigan alone. So ample were 
these contributions during the sliort period of about 
3 months, that the Ciovernor issued a proclamation 
expressing in behalf of the people of the State grate- 
ful acknowldgment, and announcing that further 
aid was unnecessary. 

Governor B. has traveled extensively in his own 
country and has also made several visits to Europe 
and other portions of the Old World. He was a pas- 
senger on the Steamer Arill, which was captured and 
bonded in the Carribean Sea, in December, 1862, by 
Capt. Semmes, and wrote a full and interesting ac- 
count of the transaction. The following estimate of 
Governor B. on his retirement from office, by a leading 
news])aper, is not overdrawn: "The retiring message 
of Governor B., will be read with interest. It is 
a characteristic document and possesses the lucid 
statement, strong, and clear practical sense, which 
have been marked features of all preceding documents 
from the same source. Governor B. retired to private 
life after four years of unusually successful adminis- 
tration amid plaudits that are universal throughout the 
State. For many years eminent and capable men 
have filled the executive chair of this State, but in 
painstaking vigilance, in stern good sense, in genuine 
public spirit, in thorough integrity and in practical 
capacity, Henry P. Baldwin has shown himself to be 
the peer of any or all of them. The State has been un- 
usually prosperous during his two terms, and the State 
administration has fully ke|;)t pace with the needs of 
the times. The retiring Governor has fully earned 
the pubhc gratitude and confidence which he to-day 
possesses to such remarkable degree." 



^ 



9 

s 
^ 






^ 





Sua-^^'Y^' 




^ 









y 
J 
^ 



-^ 



,/ 

-'.X 

^ 




OHN JUDSON BAGLEY, 
■^^ Governor of Michigan from 
if^7 3 to 1877, was born in 
Medina, Orleans Co., N. V., 
July 24, 1832. His father, John 
Bagley, was a native of New 
Hampshire, his motiier, Mary M. 
Bagley, of Connecticut. He at- 
tended the district school of Lock- 
' *^ port, N. Y., until he was eight years 
old, at which time his father moved 
to Constantine, Mich., and he at- 
tended the common schools of that 
village. His early experience was 
like that of many country boys whose 
parents removed from Eastern States 
to the newer portion of the West. 
His father being in very poor circum- 
stances, Mr. B. was obliged to work 
JuMu as soon as he was able to do so. 
wij( Leaving school when 13 years of age 
he entered a country store in Constan- 
j?j tine as clerk. His father tjien re- 
Lj,|) moved toOwosso, Mich.,and he again 
I engaged as clerk in a store. From 
early youth Mr. B. was extravagantly fond of reading 
and devoted every leisure moment to the perusal of 
such books, papers and periodicals as came within 
his reach. In 1847, he removed to Detroit, where he 
secured employment in a tobacco manufactory and 
remained in this [X)sition for about five years. 

In 1853, he began business for himself in the man- 
ufacturing of tobacco. His establishment has become 



one of the largest of the kind in the West. Mr. B. 
has also been greatly interested in other manufactur- 
ing enterprises, as well as in mining, banking and in- 
surance corporations. He was President of the 
Detroit Safe Company for several years. He was one 
of the organizers of the Michigan Mutual Life Insur- 
ance Company of Detroit, and was its President from 
1867 to 1872. He was a director of the Amer- 
ican National Bank for many years, and a stock- 
holder and director in various other corporations. 
Mr. B. was a member of the Board of Education two 
years, and of the Detroit Common Council the same 
length of time. In 1865 he was appointed by Gover- 
nor Crapo one of the first commissioners of the 
Metropolitian police force of the city of Detroit, serv- 
ing six years. In November, 1872, he was elected 
Governor of Michigan, and two years later was re- 
elected to the same office, retiring in January, 1877. 
He was an active worker in the Republican party, and 
for many years was Chairman of the Republican 
State Central committee. 

Governor Bagley was quite liberal in his religious 
views and was an attendant of the Unitarian Church. 
He aimed to be able to hear and consider any new 
thought, from whatever source itmay come, but was not 
bound by any religious creed or formula. He held 
in respect all religious opinions, believing that no one 
can be injured by a firm adherence to a faith or de- 
nomination. He was married at Dubuque, Iowa, Jan. 
16, 1855, to Frances E. Newberry, daughter of Rev. 
Samuel Newberry, a pioneer missionary of Michigan, 
who took an active part in the early educational mat- 
ters of the State and in the establishment of its ex- 
cellent system of education. It was principally 



c> 



I 

i 

«;. 
( 






^ 



i^%^ 



A^ 



mmm^ 



XX 



-^^ 



1^^ 




'58 



JOHN J. BAGLEY. 



) 



^ 



% 



> 



^ 



I 



through his exertions that the State University was 
founded. Mr. B.'s family consists of seven children. 

As Governor his administration was charac- 
terized by several important features, chief among 
which were his efforts to improve and make popular 
the educational agencies of the State by increasing 
the faculty of the University for more thorough in- 
struction in technicalstudies,by strengthening the liold 
of the Agricultural ("ollege uix)n the public good will 
and making the general change which has manifested 
itself in many scattered primary districts. Among 
others were an almost complete revolution in the 
management of the penal and charitable institutions 
of the State; the passage of the liipior-ta.x law, taking 
the place of the dead letter of prohibition; the estab- 
lishing of the system of dealing with juvenile offend- 
ers through county agents, which has proved of great 
good in turning the young back from crime and plac- 
ing the State in the attitude of a moral agent; in se- 
curing for the militia the first time in the history of 
Michigan a systematized organization uix)n a service- 
able footing. It was ujxDn the suggestion of Gov. B. 
in the earlier part of his administration that the law 
creating the State Board of Health, and also the law 
creating a fish commission in the inland waters of the 
State, were passed, both of which have proved of great 
benefit to the State. The successful representation 
of Michigan at the Centennial Exhibition is also an 
honorable part of the record uf Gov. B.'s adminis- 
tration. 

As Governor, he felt that he represented the State 
— not in a narrow, egotistical way, but in the same 
sense that a faithful, trusted, confidential agent rep- 
resents his employer, and as the Executive of the 
State he was her " attorney in fact." And his intelli- 
gent, thoughtful care will long continue the pride of 
the people he so much loved. He was ambitious — 
ambitious for place and power, as every noble mind 
is ambitious, because these give opportunity. How- 
ever strong the mind and powerful the will, if there 
be no ambition, life is a failure. He was not blind to 
the fact that the more we have the more is required 
of us. He accepted it in its fullest meaning. He 
had great hopes for his State and his country. He had 
liis ideas of what they should be. \\'ith a heart as 
broad as humanity itself; with an intelligent, able and 
cultured brain, the will and the power to do, he 
asked his fellow citizen to give him the opportunity to 
labor for them. Self entered not into the calculation. 




(?^ 



i 




5^^ 



His whole life was a battle for others; nnd lie entered- \' 
tlie conflict eagerly and hopefully. ^ 

His State papers were models of compact, busi- ^« 
ness-like statements, bold, original, and brimful of T 
practical suggestions, and liis administrations will long t6) 
be considered as among tlie ablest in this or any 
other State. 

His noble, generous nature made his innumerable 
benefactions a source of continuous pleasure. Liter- 
ally, to him it was " more blessed to give than to 
receive." 

His greatest enjoyment was in witnessing the com- 
fort and happiness of others. Not a tithe of his char- 
ities were known to his most intimate friends, or even 
to his family. Many a needy one has been the recipi- 
ent of aid at an opportune moment, who never knew 
the hand that gave. 

At one time a friend had witnessed his ready re- 
sponse to some charitable request, and said to him : 
"Governor, you give away a large sum of money ; about 
how much does your charities amount to in a year?" 
He turned at once and said: " I do not know, sir; I 
do not allow myself to know. I hope I gave more 
this year than I did last, and hope I shall give more 
next year than I have this." This expressed his idea == 
of charity, that the giving should at all times be free '^ 
and spontaneous. 

During his leasure hours from early life, and espe- ( 
cially during the last few years, he devoted much time 
to becoming acquainted with the best authors. Biog- 
ra])hy was his delight; the last he read was the "Life 
and Work of John .Adams," in ten volumes. 

In all questions of business or public affairs he 
seemed to have the power of getting at the kernel of 
the nut in the least possible time. In reading he 
would spend scarcely more time with a volume than 
most persons would devote to a chapter. After what 
seemed a cursory glance, he would have all of value 
the book contained. Rarely do we see a business 
man so familiar with the best English authors. He 
was a generous and intelligent patron of the arts, and 
liis elegant home was a study and a pleasure (^ 
to his many friends, who always found there a | 
hearty welcome. At Christmas time he would spend %,^ 
days doing the work of Santa Claus. Every Christmas 7X 
eve he gathered his children about him and, taking \l^ 
the youngest on his lap, told some Ciiristmas story, ^ 
closing the entertainment with "The Night Before ^J 
Christmas," or Dickens's " Christmas Carol." ^L 



A<^o!i^nni^A^ 




T 



(^n^M 



\M\\. <yvvd\^ 




W 



ciL.iu'i^^^^^tlJD 



Wi 



^^ 



icy 



®>; 



^•f««^ 



z^^K — ^v<^tin^iiiy^^ 



) 



' ) 



{ 



i 



GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 





^m CHARLES M. CROSAVELE, 







^ 







HARLES M. CROSWELL, 
I') (lovernor of Michigan from 
"Jan. 3, 1877 to Jan. i, 1881, 
was born at Newburg, Orange 
County, N. Y., Oct. 31, 1825. 
He is the only son of John and 
Sallie (Hicks) Croswell. His 
father, who was of Scotch-Irish 
extraction, was a paper-maker, 
and carried on business in New 
York City. His ancestors on 
his mother's side were of Knicker- 
bocker descent. The Croswell 
family may be found connected 
with prominent events, in New York 
and Connecticut, in the early exis- 
tence of the Republic. Harry Cros- 
well, during the administration of 
I't] President Jefferson, published a pa- 
per called the Balance^ and was 
w®' prosecuted for libeling the President 
7iM under the obnoxious Sedition Law. 
'w' He was defended by the celebrated 
I Alexander Hamilton, and the decis- 
ion of the case establised the important ruling that 
the truth might Ije shown in cases of libel. Another 
member of the family was Edwin Croswell, tlie fam- 
ous editor of the Albany Ar^iis ; also, Rev. William 
Croswell, noted as a divine and poet. 

When Charles M. Croswell was seven years of age, 
his father was accidentally drowned in the Hudson 
River, at Newburg ; and, within three months preced- 
ing that event, his mother and only sister had died, — 
thus leaving him the sole surviving member of the 
family, without fortune or means. Upon the death 



of his father he went to live with an uncle, who, in 
1837, emigrated with him to Adrain, Michigan. At 
sixteen years of age, he commenced to learn the car- 
penter's trade, and worked at it very diligently for 
four years, maintaining himself, and devoting his spare 
time to reading and the acquirement of knowledge. 
In 1846, he began the study of law, and was ap- 
pointed Deputy Clerk of Lenawee County. The du- 
ties of this office he performed four years, when he 
was elected Register of Deeds, and was re-elected 
in 1852. In 1854, betook i)art in the first movements 
for the formation of the Republican party, and was a 
member and Secretary of the convetion held at Jack- 
son in that year, which put in the field the first Re- 
publican State ticket in Michigan. In 1855, he 
formed a law partnership with the present Chief-Jus- 
tice Cooley, which continued until the removal of 
Judge Cooley to Ann Arbor. 

In 1862, Mr. Croswell was appointed City Attorney 
of .'\drian. He was also elected Mayor of the city 
in the spring of the same year; and in the fall was 
chosen to represent Lenawee County in the State 
Senate. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1864, 
and again in 1866, during each term filling the posi- 
tions above mentioned. Among various reports made 
by him, one adverse to the re-establishment of the 
death penalty, and another against a proposition to 
pay the salaries of State officers and judges in coin, 
which then commanded a very large premium, may 
be mentioned. He also drafted the act ratifying the 
Thirteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution, 
for the abolishment of slavery, it being the first 
amendment to the instrument ratified by Michigan. 
In 1863, from his seat in the State Senate, he de- 
livered an elaborate speech in favor of the Proclama- 






^: 






A^-in a^niif>^ — ^^^^ 



i^^Jf 




5^^ 



-:2i^^?^ eVC^nD^lll]r>r 



162 



CHARLES M. CROSWELL. 



^^m^^ 



> 

A 



S 



tion of Emancipation issued by President Lincoln, 
and of his general [Xjlicy in the prosecution of the 
war. This, at the request of his Reiniblican associ- 
ates, was afterwards published. In 1S67, he was 
elected a member (>( the Constitutional Convention, 
and chosen its presiding officer. This convention 
was composed of an able body of men ; and though, 
in the general distrust of constitutional changes 
which for some years had been taking possession of 
the people, their labors were not accepted by the pop- 
ular vote, it was always conceded that the constitu- 
tion they proixjsed had been prepared with great care 
and skill. 

In 1868, Mr. Croswell was chosen an Elector on 
the Republican Presidential ticket; in 1872, was 
elected a Representative to the State Legislature 
from Lenawee County, and was chosen !^peaker of 
the House of Representatives. At the close of the 
session of that tody his abilities as a parliamentarian, 
and the fairness of his rulings were freely and form- 
ally acknowledged by his associates ; and he was pre- 
sented with a superb collection of their portraits 
handsomely framed. He was, also, for several years, 
Secretary of the State Board for the general supervis- 
ion of the charitable and penal institutions of Michi- 
gan; in which position, his propositions for the amel- 
ioration of the condition of the unfortunate, and the 
reformation of the criminal classes, signalize the be- 
nevolence of his nature, and the practical character 
of his mind. 

In 1876, the general voice of the Republicans of 
the State indicted Mr. Croswell as their choice for 
Governor; and, at the State Convention of the party 
in .\ugust of the same year, he was put in nomination 
by acclamation, without the formality of a ballot. .At 
the election in November following, he was chosen to 
the high position for which he had been nominated, 
by a very large majority over all opposing candidates. 
His inaugural message was received with general 
favor; and his career as Governor was marked with 
the same qualities of head and heart that have ever 
distinguished him, both as a citizen and statesman. 



Governor Groswell has always prepared his ad- 
dresses with care ; and, as his diction is terse, clear, 
and strong, without e.xcess of ornament, and his de- 
liver)- impressive, he is a popular speaker; and many 
of his speeches have attracted favorable comment in 
the public prints, and have a permanent value. He 
has always manifested a deep interest in educational 
matters, and was for years a member and Secretary of 
the Board of Education of .\drain. .\t the formal 
opening of the Central School building in that city, 
ou the 24th day of April, 1869, he gave, in a public 
address, an " Historical Sketch of the Adrian Public 
Schools." 

In his private life. Governor Croswell has been as 
exemplary as in his public career he has been suc- 
cessful and useful. In February, 1S52, he was mar- 
ried to a daughter of Morton Eddy, Lucy M. Eddy, 
a lady of many amiable and sunny qualities. She 
suddenly died, March 19, 1868, leaving two daugh- 
ters and a sou. Ciovernor Croswell is not a member 
of any religious body, but generally attends the Pres- 
byterian Church. He pursues the profession of law, 
but of late has been occupied mainly in the care of his 
own interests, and the quiet duties of advice in 
business difficulties, for which his unfailing pru- 
dence and sound judgment eminently fit him. Gov- 
ernor Croswell is truly jiopular, not only with those of 
like political faith with himself, but with those who 
differ from him in this regard. 

During Gov. Croswell's administration the public 
debt was greatly reduced ; a policy adopted requiring 
the State institutions to keep within the limit of ap- 
propriations; laws enacted to provide more effectually 
for the punishment of corruption and bribrery in elec- 
tions; the State House of Correction at Ionia and the 
Eastern Asylum for the Insane at Pontiac were opened, 
and the new capital at Lansing was completed and 
occupied. The first act of his second term was to pre- 
side at the dedication of this buildiiig The great riot 
at Jackson occured during his administration, and it 
was only bv his promptness that great distruction of 
both life and properly ^ .<= invented at tha" time. 



(^ 



^ 












GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



vxii 



; ) 



>5 

1=1 

:) 



^ 






165 




»( irn-i)).,.. 



^^a.O-lt'i.'Wf 








DAVID H. JEROME, Gover- 

Ifoiior of from Jan. i, 1881, to 
Jan. I, 1883, was born at De- 
troit, Mich., Nov. 17, 1829. 
His parents emigrated to 
Michigan from Trumansburg, 
Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1828, 
locating at Detroit. His father 
died March 30, 1831, leaving 
nine children. He had been 
twice married, and four of the 
children living at tlie time of his 
death were grown up sons, the off- 
spring of his first union. Of the 
five children by his second marriage, David H. was 
the youngest. Shortly after Mr. Jerome's death, his 
widow moved back to New York and settled in 
Onondaga County near Syracuse, where they remained 
, until the fall of 1834, the four sons by the first wife 
continuing their residence in Michigan. In the fall 
of 1834, Mrs. Jerome came once more to Michigan, 
locating on a farm in St. Clair County. Here the 
Governor formed those habits of industry and ster- 
ling integrity that have been so characteristic of tlie 
man in the active duties of life. He was sent to the 
district school, and in the acquisition of tlie funda- 
mental branches of learning he displayed a precocity 
and an application which won for him the admiration 
of his teachers, and always placed him at the head 
of his classes. In the meantime he did chores on 
the farm, and was always ready with a cheerful heart 
and willing hand to assist his widowed mother. The 
heavy labor of the farm was carried on by his two 






i 

Si/ 



older brothers, Timothy and Cieorge, and when 13 
years of age David received his mother's permission to 
attend school at the St. Clair Academy. While attend- 
ing there he lived with Marcus H. Miles, now de- 
ceased, doing chores for his board, and the following 
winter performed the same service for James Ogden, 
also deceased. The next summer Mrs. Jerome 
moved into the village of St. Clair, for the purpose of ^ 
continuing her son in school. While attending said 
academy one of his associate students was Sena- 
tor Thomas W. Palmer, of Detroit, a rival candidate 
before the gubernatorial convention in 18S0. He 
completed his education in the fall of his i6th year, 
and the following winter assisted his brother Timothy 
Ml hauling logs in the pine woods. The next summer 
he rafted logs down the St. Clair River to Algonac. 

In 1847, M. H. Miles being Clerk in St. Clair Coun- 
ty, and Volney A. Ripley Register of Deeds, David 
H. Jerome was appointed Deputy to each, remaining 
as such during 1848-49, and receiving much ])raise 
from his employers and the people in general for the 
ability displayed in the discharge of his duties. He 
spent his summer vacation at clerical work on board 
the lake vessels. 

In i84g-'5o, he abandoned office work, and for the 
proper development of liis physical system spent 
several months hauling logs. In the spring of 1850, 
his brother "Tiff" and himself chartered the steamer 
"Chautauqua," and "Young Dave" became her mas- 
ter. A portion of the season the boat was engaged 
in the passenger and freight traffic between Port 
Huron and Detroit, but during the latter part was 
used as a tow boat. At that time there was a serious 
obstruction to navigation, known as the "St. Clair 
Flats," between Lakes Huron and Erie, over which 



f&) 



u 




mmMi> 



mi 



^^ 



^7<m^mw 



-^Mt 



) 



^ 



^ 

s 

b 



i66 



£>A VID H. JEROME. 



^^f®V^ 



vessels could carry only about 10,000 bushels of grain. 
Mr. Jerome conceived the idea of towing vessels 
from one lake to the other, and put his plan into 
operation. Through the influence of practical men, — 
among them the subject of this sketch, — Congress 
removed the obstruction above referred to, and now 
vessels can pass them laden with 60,000 or 80,000 
bushels of grain. 

During the season, the two brothers succeeded 
in making a neat little sum of money by the sum- 
mer's work, but subsequently lost it all on a contract 
to raise the "(len. Scott," a vessel that had sunk in 
Lake St. Clair. David H. came out free from debt, 
but possessed of hardly a dollar of capital. In the 
spring of 185 i , he was clerk and acting master of the 
steamers "Franklin Moore" and "Ruby," plying be- 
tween Detroit and Port Huron and Goderich. The 
following year he was clerk of the propeller "Prince- 
ton." running l)etween Detroit and Buffalo. 

In January, 1853, Mr. Jerome went to California, 
by way of the Isthmus, and enjoyed extraordinary 
success in selling goods in a new place of his selec- 
tion, among the mountains near Marysville He re- 
mained there during the sunnner, and located the 
Live Yankee Tunnel Mine, which has since yielded 
millions to its owners, and is still a paying investment. 
He planned and put a tunnel 600 feet into tlie mine, 
but when the water supply began to fail with the dry 
season, sold out his interest. He left in the fall of 
1853, and in December sailed from San Francisco for 
New York, arriving at his liome in St. Clair County, 
about a year after his departure. During his absence 
his brother "Tiff" had located at Saginaw, ana in 
1854 Mr. Jerome joined him in his lumber operations 
in the valley. In 1855 the brothers bought Black- 
mer & Eaton's hardware and general supply stores, 
at Saginaw, and David H. assumed the management 
of the business. From 1855 to 1873 he was also ex- 
tensively engaged in lumbering operations. 

Soon after locating at Saginaw he was nominated 
for Alderman against Stewart B. Williams, a rising 
young man, of strong Democratic principles. The 
ward was largely Democratic, but Mr. Jerome was 
elected by a handsome majority. When the Repub- 
lican party was born at Jackson, Mich., David H. 
Jerome was, though not a delegate to the convention, 
one of its "charter members." In 1862, he was com- 
missioned by Gov. Austin Blair to raise one of the 



six regiments apportioned to the State of Michigan. 
Mr. Jerome immediately went to work and held 
meetings at various points. The zeal and enthusiasm 
displayed by this advocate of the Union awakened a 
feeling of patriotic interest in the breasts of many 
brave men, and in a short space of time the 23d 
Regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry was placed 
in the field, and subsequently gained for itself a liril- 
liant record. 

In the fall of 1862, Mr. Jerome was nominated by 
the Republican party for State Senator from the 26th 
district, Appleton Stevens, of Bay City, being his op- 
ponent. The contest was very exciting, and resulted 
in tlie triumphant election of Mr. Jerome. He was 
twice renominated and elected both times l)y in- 
creased majorities, defeating George Lord, of Bay 
City, and Dr. Cheseman, of Gratiot County. On tak- 
ing his seat in the Senate, he was appointed Chair- 
man of the Committee on .State Affairs, and was ac- 
tive in raising means and troops to carry on the war. 
He held the same position during his three terms of 
service, and introduced the bill creating the Soldiers' 
Home at Harper Hospital, Detroit. 

He was selected by Gov. Crapo as a military aid, 
and in 1865 was appointed a member of the State 
Military Board, and served as its President for eight 
consecutive years. In 1873, he was appointed by 
Gov. Bagley a member of the convention to prepare 
a new State Constitution, and was Chairman of the 
Committee on Finance. 

In 1S75, Mr. Jerome was appointed a memberof 
the Board of Indian Commissioners. In I876 he was 
Chairman of a commission to visit Chief Joseph, the 
Nez Perce Indian, to arrange an amicable settlement 
of all existing difficulties. The commission went to 
Portland, Oregon, thence to the Blue Hills, in Idaho, 
a distance of 600 miles up the Columbia River. 

At the Republican State Convention, convened at 
Jackson in August, 1880, Mr. Jerome was placed in 
the field for nomination, and on the 5 th day of the 
month received the highest, honor the convention 
could confer on any one. His opponent was Freder- 
ick M. Holloway, of Hillsdale County, who was sup- 
ported by the Democratic and Greenback parties. 
The State was thoroughly canvassed by both parties, 
and when the polls were closed on the evening of 
election day, it was found that David H. Jerome had 
been selected by the voters of the Wolverine State to 
occupy the highest position within their gift. 



^ 












^ 



W^!\m^^-^- ^^'^^ ^^^-^^Dfl'^^ntli^V^ ^""^^ 




r^ 



» 






^i^3£--*^:2>^^)^w^^^.^-t^ 



i^),:^/^i))^#^»- 

T 



-cr 



^ 



v<>nn^iii^^ 



T-'rr 



GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN 



169 



T 











josyya w, EEGtLi, 







1 

> 
) 






~> 



;< 




OSIAH \V. BEGOLE, the 
;jj» present (1883), Clovenior of 
^ Michigan was born in Living- 
ston, County, N. V., Jan. 20, 
18 15. His ancestors were of 
French descent, and settled at 
an early period in the State of 
Maryland. His grandfather, Capt. 
i BoUes, of that State, was an offi- 



'Xfy\ cer in the American army durinjj 
' \^ the war of the Revolution. 



.\l.out 



» ; 




M the beginnmg of the present cent- 
ury both his grandparents, liaving 
become dissatisfied with the insti- 
tution of slavery, although slave- 
\'f holders themselves, emigrated to 
\ Livingston County, N. Y., then 
a new country, taking with them a 
number of their former slaves, who 
volunteered to accompany them. 
His father was an officer in the 
American army, and served during 
the war of 18 12. 
Mr. B. received his early education in a log school- 
house, and subsequently attended the Temple Hill 
Academy, at Geneseo, N. Y. Being tlie eldest of a 
family of ten children, whose parents were in moder- 
ate though comfortable circumstances, he was early 
taught habits of industry, and when 2 1 years of age, 
being ambitious to better his condition in life, he re- 
solved to seek his fortune in the far West, as it was 



then called. In August, 1836, he left the parental 
roof to seek a home in tlie Territory of Michigan 
then an almost unbroken wilderness. He settled in 
Genesee County, and aided with his own hands in 
luiilding some of the early residences in what is now 
known as tlie city of Flint. There were but four or 
five houses where this flourishing city now stands 
when he selected it as his home. 

Li the spring of 1839 he married Miss Harriet A. 
Miles. The marriage proved a most fortunate one, 
and to the faithful wife of his youth, who lives to en- 
joy with him the comforts of an honestly earned com- 
petence, Mr. Begole ascribes largely his success in 
life. Immediately after his marriage he commenced 
work on an unimproved farm, where, by his perse- 
verance and energy, he soon established a good home, 
and at the end of eighteen years was the owner of a 
well improved farm of five hundred acres. 

Mr. Begole being an anti-slavery man, became a 
member of the Republican party at its organization. 
He served his toivnsmen in various offices, and was 
in 1856, elected County Treasurer, which office he 
held for eight years. 

.\t the breaking out of the Rebellion he did not 
carry a musket to the front, but his many friends will 
bear witness that he took an active part in recruiting 
and furnishing supplies for the army, and in looking 
after the interests of soldiers' families at home. The 
death of his eldest son near .\tlanta, Ga., by a Confed- 
rate bullet, in 1864, was the greatest sorrow of his life. 
When a few years later he was a member in Congress 






^ 



i) 








T<>DIl^;DDr1>v 



170 



P 



<^ 






JOSIAH W. BEGOLE. 



Gov. Begole voted and worked for the soldiers' 
bounty equalization bill, an act doing justice to the 
soldier who bore the burden and heat of the day, and 
who should fare equally with him who came in at the 
eleventh hour. That bill was defeated in the House 
on account of the large appropriation that would be 
required to pay the same. 

In 1870, Gov. Begole was nominated by acclama- 
tion for the office of State Senator, and elected by a 
large majority. In that body he served on the Com- 
mittees of Finance and Railroads, and was Chairman 
of the Committee on the Institute for the Deaf and 
Dumb and Blind. He took a liberal and public- 
spirited view of the importance of a new capitol 
building worthy of the State, and was an active mem- 
ber of the Committee that drafted the bill for the 
same He was a delegate to the National Republi- 
can Convention held at Philadelphia in 1872, and 
was the chosen member of that delegation to go to 
Washington and inform Gen. Grant and Senator 
Wilson of their nominations. It was while at that 
convention that, by the express wish of his many 
friends, he was induced to offer himself a can- 
didate for the nomination of member to tlie 43d Con- 
gress, in which he was successful, after competing for 
the nomination with several of the most worthy, able 
and experienced men in the Sixth Congressional Dis- 
trict, and was elected by a very large majority. In 
Congress, he was a member of the Committee on 
Agricultural and Public Expenditures. Being one of 
the 17 farmers in that Congress, he took an. active 
part in the Committee of Agriculture, and was ap- 
pointed by that committee to draft the most impor- 
tant report made by that committee, and upon the 
only subject recommended by the President in his 
message, which he did and the report was printed in 
records of Congress ; he took an efficient though an 
unobtrusive part in all its proceedings. 

He voted for the currency bill, remonetization of 
silver, and other financial measures, many of which, 
though defeated then, have since become the settled 
policy of the country. Owing to the position which 
Mr. Begole occupied on these questions, he became a 
"Greenbacker." 

In the Gubernatorip.l election of 1882, Mr. Begole 
was the candidate of both the Greenback and Dem- 
ocratic parties, and was elected by a vote of 154,269, 
the Republican candidate, Hon. David H. Jerome, 




«-V®^$^ 



-=-<^Ill]^llIli>^ 



receiving 149,697 votes. Mr. Begole, in entering 
upon his duties as Governor, has manifested a spirit 
that has already won him many friends, and bids fair 
to make his administration both successful and pop- 
ular. 

The very best indications of what a man is, is what 
his own townsmen think of him. We give the fol- 
lowing extract from the Flint Globe, the leading Re- 
publican paper m Gov. Begole's own county, and it, 
too, written during the heat of a political campaign, 
which certainly is a flattering testimonial of his ster- 
ling worth : 

" So far, however, as Mr. Begole, the head of the 
ticket, is concerned, there is nothing detrimental to 
his character that can be alleged against him. He 
has sometimes changed his mind in politics, but for 
sincerity of his beliefs and the earnestness of his pur- 
pose nobody who knows him entertains a doubt. He 
is incapable of bearing malice, even against his bit- 
terest [wlitical enemies. He has a warm, generous 
nature, and a larger, kinder heart does not beat in 
the bosom of any man in Michigan, He is not much 
given to making speeches, but deeds are more signif- 
icant of a man's character than words There are 
many scores of men in all parts of the State where 
Mr. Begole is acquainted, who have had practical 
demonstrations of these facts, and who are liable to 
step outside of party lines to show that they do not 
forget his kindness, and who, no doubt, wish that he 
was a leader in what would not necessarily prove a 
forlorn hope. But the Republican party in Michigan 
is too strong to be beaten by a combination of Demo- 
crats and Greenbackers, even if it is marshaled by so 
good a man as Mr. Begole." 

This sketch would be imperfect without referring 
to the action of Mr. B. at the time of the great calamity 
that in 1881 overtook the people of Northeastern 
Michigan, in a few hours desolating whole counties 
by fire and destroying the results and accumulations 
of such hard work as only falls to the lot of pioneers. 
While the Port Huron and Detroit committees were 
quarrehng over the distribution of funds, Mr. Begole 
wrote to an agent in the "|bumt district " a letter, from 
which we make an extract of but a single sentence : 
"Until the differences between the two committees 
are adjusted and you receive your regular supplies 
from them, draw on me. Let no man suffer while I 
have money." This displays his true character. 



K 



f 






V 



t 

i. 



r^- 




^Si l'^. 



^-^^yTammwy^-^ 



--^^^C(®viii 



?Ay--: 



(^ 



) 
> 

i 

1=3 

I 







lit T^T^T^ ^ 



f 




:^-liL/fl^lMJ 







gii^^s)^^ 



(^ 



^' 



$:^: 







^y^MnMi>^ — s^C^ ^ - ^4^^f(^ 



^^^^ 







>^ 



> 






^^f|.^- 



■r^C:tltj^|]|]^•>v-e-r- 








^ ^ 











V3^ 






' (■ 



■•^ 




I «»< 



<:iimiia;^ 



:y 



^ 



>@^^^aS, 



'^)>/^>^#^ 



^J 



^m'^M-^>T 



^.S^\3\\V) 



^m 



•^ 



^ 



) 
■ ^ 

• ^. 



V 














ei^ 1r^ S_«, fB!"!c^ 









.^- 







Gl-' 



*<. 



V^ 



(^ 



^ 



$>: 



Ky 

^ 



a 



11 



K 



^^^^ '^-^^:Il!l^ll!l^>^- — ^^^^:— ^4^^f@>| 



(») y^(i,^:| 






E©^'ii 






(b 



IV^ 



:^0 



<^ 







9 
/5s 



c>: 






i) 



(q) 



'l^\mm^ ^^^^^ — ^-^<^[i g ^ titi^-^r^ — ^^^ 




(^ 



<>tlll^DIl^>? 



rr 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



"^as^^^ 






irlNXRODUQT^ORY.i: 










V 



-9 



(^ 






— 5- 



HE value of history lies, in 
a great degree, in the biog- 
raphy of the personages con- 
cerned therein. The annals 
of the settlers delineate the 
pioneer period, while those of the 
later residents exhibit the progress 
of the country and the status of 
the present generation. Midland 
County gives a vivid illustration 
of these statements ; but its won- 
derful pioneer era laps upon its 
present period in a manner so grad- 
ual that there is really no dis- 
tinctive line of demarcation. Many 
of those whose efforts gave the 
country its earliest impetus may still be seen upon 
its thoroughfares ; many of the characters in the day 
of its first things are still on the stage, and watch 
with keen-eyed alertness the manipulations, successes 
and reverses of the present day, still jealous for the 
reputation of the county and eagerly solicitous for 
her substantial and permanent progress. 

The compilers of these records strive to establish 
their claim for biographical integrity, preparing the 
matter from the stand-point of no man's prejudice. 
The full scope of the personal record here is to 
demonstrate the exact relation of every individual 




#>#- 



C^ 



represented to the generations of the past and of the 
present. 

Succeeding ages sweep away the debris of human 
errors and perpetuate the real greatness of a com- 
munity. Character stands out statuesque, and 
events cluster about individuals, forming the grandest 
and truest historical structure of which any age is 
capable. Only biography can fitly represent the 
foundation, progress and idtimatujti of local history, 
and portray with perfect justice the precise attitude 
and relation of men to events and conditions. 

Midland County is justly proud of her pioneer 
record, and, so far as possible, the publishers have 
endeavored to honor the representatives of that pe- 
riod as well as those of to-day. Labor and suffering, 
undergone in the light of hope and the earnestness 
of honest effort and toil, established this county in 
permanent prosperity, and is rounding up a period of 
glorious completeness. Her villages are creditable, 
and her agricultural community is composed of the 
best classes. 

In collecting the following sketches the purpose 
has been to collect the main points of personal 
record, through which the enterprise of decades to 
follow may complete a perfect and continuous histori- 
cal outline from the earliest settlement of the county 
to the present time. 



<^. 







^mM\i<>^. — ^^^f^ 




#^f 




-^V<c>P D=^ n nf ^'t'^^ :2!^»sr 






V 



\ 




m^. 



-4^^^C(®^'-!^ 



v§) 



X=I 






( 



/^ 




^(^«|S9- 



/-^ A. 



<^Dg5^Dtln>A@ ^m^ 



?i^i 
^ 



IMn^^^^^ 



;i-i^®- 



1> 






/ 
?) 

t 



-\ 



^i\ 



V 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 















\\(m. HENRY HART, Judge 
of the 2 1 St Judicial Cir- 
cuit of Michigan, resident 
at Midland, was born May 
13, 1840, in China, St. 
i<>j-^. ,. . ^-..n.- . -^^^' Clair Co., Mich. His line 
''^Nr^ ' ^ °^ descent is purely Anier- 

©j'-^pK" ican, the ancestors of iiis parents 
^'j|^ having been born in the State of 
6\^|@^ New York. His father, Silas S. Hart, 
^' was a native of Long Island, and was 

born July 20, 1804. His mother, 
Maria (Hart) Hart, was born July 
27, 1807, in the western part of the 
Empire State. Her demise occurred 
in June, 1875. The death of the 
father took place in September, 1870. 

Not long after the event of their marriage the 
parents of Judge Hart settled in St. Clair Co., Mich. 
The Peninsular State was then in its Territorial 
days, and they were among the pioneer element 
whose labors and efforts established the prosperity 
and rank of one of the best sections of Michigan. 
They located in primeval forest, built a humble 
home and devoted tlje strength of their lives to tlie 
progress and advancement of the place of their 
choice, and the community of which they were a 




part, which they lived to see in a condition that 
creditably rivaled the old-settled places in the East. 
They reared their family of five children in the pur- 
suit of labor on the farm, which was alternated by 
attendance at the common schools. 

At the age of 15 years Judge Hart went to Mt. 
Clemens and became a member of the household of 
R. P. Eldridge, attorney. He remained there about 
20 months, engaged in alternate labor and study. 
He became respectably proficient in scholarship and 
engaged in teacliing a district school in the winter 
prior to his reaching the age of 18 years. He pur- 
sued that calling six winters, spending the remainder 
of the years in the pursuit of agriculture, save one 
summer' when he attended school at St. Clair. He 
determined upon the profession of an attorney and 
returned to Mt. Clemens, where he read law under 
the direction of Mr. Eldridge, and in the fall of 
1863 he matriculated in the Law Department of the 
University of Michigan, where he was graduated 
in the spring of 1865 with the degree of B. LL. In 
July following he fixed his residence at Midland, 
where he entered upon his career as an attorney and 
in a brief time secured a substantial practice and a 
firm hold on the confidence of the community, to 
which he proved a valuable accession. 

Judge Hart was married Feb. 4, 1869, to Maria 
Parsons. She was born April 17, 1844, in China, 



i 

3=3 

Si/ 



^? 





^^Ve^DD^OIIs> 



178 



V 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



~^%^^^sr 



# 



^ 




w 



) 



■ ■>. 



0^% 



) 



and is the daughter of William and Lavinia (Weeks) 
Parsons. Two children, Ray and Mary, constitute 
the issue of this marriage, the one born April 21, 
1872, the other Feb. 27, 1876, at Midland. 

His public life commenced in the fall of 1866, 
when he was appointed Justice of the Peace to fill 
an unexpired term. In the fall of 1866 he was 
elected Prosecuting Attorney of Midland County, 
and in 1868 was re-elected to the same position. In 
the fall of 1870 he was elected Circuit-Court Com- 
missioner, and two years later was his own successor 
by re-election. He was elected Representative 
from his district in the autumn of 1874 and dis- 
charged the duties of the position through the 
session of the winter of 1874-5. His personal service 
in the Legislature included the Chairmanship on the 
Committee on Municipal Corporations, and he 
officiated as a member of the Committee on Enroll- 
ment and Engrossing of Bills. 

In the spring of 1875 he resigned his post as 
Representative to render himself eligible to the posi- 
tion of Circuit Judge, which he has since held con- 
tinuously. His circuit includes the counties of 
Midland, Isabella, Clare, Gladwin and Gratiot. 

The character and career of Judge Hart afford a 
lesson of intense significance to the aspirants of the 
times. The traits by which he is characterized have 
won for him his unwavering popularity, and substan- 
tiated his position in public life from the outset. His 
course has been marked by no comet-like brilliancy 
or spasmodic prominence. He has kept the even 
temper of a man of inflexible principle, sound judg- 
ment and manly dignity. The two latter character- 
istics make him eminent on the Bench. His bearing 
is always compatible with the character of the posi- 
tion he occupies, and his perfect self-poise secures 
the utmost degree of harmony in the sessions over 
which he presides. The advocates who plead in his 
courts acknowledge the power and the influence of 
his unwavering demeanor ; and his entire official 
record is marked by the traits which distinguish him. 
His deliberation amounts nearly to dilatoriness, but 
the character of his decisions is evident from the 
favor they meet in the higher tribunals. He is an 
excellent jurist, an impartial judge and an admirable 
exponent of law. The rectitude of his private 
character, his dignified solicitude for the faithful dis- 
charge of the trusts confided to him, his manner and 



methods in the management of his judicial obliga- 
tions and connections, render him conspicuous. His 
official position sought him out at the threshold of 
his prime, and his character and acts have made his 
subsequent career one of credit to himself, and re- 
flects honor upon his constituency. 



1'^! pf'||t'nstice C. Perry, mechanic and farmer, sec- 
yit^^iu" tion 20, Lee Township, was born in Chau- 
l^''^ • t^'"l"a Co., N. Y., July 18, 1827 ; when he 
^ gharri ved at the age of nine years, the family 
It moved to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and in that 
S county, when of age, he married Miss Eliza A. 
Herrick, who was born in Hampshire, Mass., Dec. 
14, 1829, and whose parents were New Englanders, 
of English ancestry. At the age of ten years she 
was taken by her parents, changing residence, into 
Berkshire County, same State, afterward to Ashta- 
bula Co., Ohio, where she remained with them until her 
marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Perry are now the parents 
of six children, all living and married, and residing in 
this and Isabella Counties. Their names are Theo- 
dore, Flora, Charlotte, Charles, Medora and Ellen. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Perry settled in 
Colebrook, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where Mr. P. fol- 
lowed his trade as carpenter, which he had learned 
as a regular apprentice when a youth. During the 
war he enlisted for the Union, in Co. E, 6th Ohio 
Cav., in the Army of the Potomac, his company being 
commanded by Capt. Wm. J. Gray. He was in the 
service 27 months, the whole time as Sergeant, being 
in all the engagements of that division of the army 
until he was wounded at Aldie, Va. His horse being 
shot under him, he fell and his right hip was put out 
of joint. Shortly afterward, Jan. 15, 1865, he was dis- 
charged for disability. 

Returning from the war he located again at Cole- 
brook, where he remained until the spring of 18S0, 
when he came to this county and settled upon a 
quarter of section 20, where he now resides, which he 
had purchased in 1875. Here he has made con- 
siderable improvement, and deeded most of the place 
to his children. He and his wife are members of the 
Old-School Baptist Church, he j# a Republican in his 
political views, and he has held the minor offices of 
his townshij). 



^' 



A 



:< 



V 



i^v®))(^fi^ 



-^^nn^niir^ 




&% 



!»#5» 



<>DD^:DUs:>^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



■;2S>(Jr''<^" 



<h 



) 

■ds. 






I 



ooo 



^I^^L,, achariah N. Hewitt, deceased, was born 
gj^^r Sept. 1 1, 1 834, at Prattsburg, N. Y., and was 
■I'lip^'^ a son of William A. and Hannah C. (Hyatt) 
•7|w^ Hewitt. His father was born Nov. 25, 18 12, 
^iv. at Saratoga, N. Y., a lawyer by profession, and 

I one of the first settlers of Clinton Co., this 
State; he moved to this State when Zachariah was 
about 18 months old. and here died, Feb. 12, 1863. 
The mother, who was bom March 15, 1813, in 
Orange Co., N. Y., was married a second time, to the 
youngest brother of her deceased husband, and is at 
present living at Maple Rapids, Clinton Co., this 
State. Their daughter, Mrs. Fannie M. Brown, was 
the first white child born in Clinton County. 

Zachariah remained at home until 17 years of age, 
when he went forth upon the sea of time to battle 
against the elements of disappointment and ad- 
versity alone. He engaged in "driving" logs on the 
Muskegon River for a time, and then wor'ked at his 
trade, blacksmithing, which he had learned pre- 
viously. He continued to work at his trade, lumber- 
ing more or less during winters, until 1856. Jan. 17 
of that year he was united in marriage to Miss 
America L., daughter of Theodore P. and Abigail 
A. (Bristol) Hoyt. She was born May r7, 1837, in 
Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., and is the mother, to 
Mr. Hewitt, of two children, namely : Ambrose T., 
born Jan. 4, 1857, in Maple Rapids, Clinton Co., this 
State, and Ion N., born Feb. 16, 1869, in the same 
place. The father of Mrs. Hewitt was a native of 
Hooperstown, in the Empire State, born Aug. 25, 
1816, and died July 2, 1873. The mother was born 
Feb. 28, 18 17, at Smith ville, Chenango Co., N. Y. 

After marriage Mr. Hewitt worked his father's 
farm for a year, then engaged in a grocery store at 
Maple Rapids, and continued the business for about 
two years, until 1859, when he sold the same. 
April 22, of the latter date, he started overland for 
the land of gold. His intention on leaving home 
was to go to Pike's Peak, but en route he heard so 
many discouraging reports of that place that he 
changed his mind, and meeting with some friends 
from Gratiot County on the way to California, he 
accompanied them. On arriving at the latter place 
he engaged in mining, and followed the same for 




some three years and nine months, when he returned 
home by water. On his arrival home he rented a 
grist-mill, which he ran for a short time and then 
purchased an interest in the same and continued to 
o|)erate it for about three years. At the expiration 
of the latter date, he rented the mill and went to 
Pike's Peak, was gone less than a year, and return- 
ing, ran his mill for a time, then sold it and pur- 
chased a saw-mill in Maple Rapids. He ran the 
saw-mill for two years, then sold it and purchased a 
grocery in Maple Rapids; conducted that business 
for about a year, when he sold it to the party who 
owned the building. His next move was to Ten- 
nessee, when he came home and engaged in the 
brick business near Maple Rapids for a season. 

May I, 1878, Mr. H. moved to Gratiot County, 
and located in Bethany Township. It was on a 
wild, unimproved piece of land, and he erected a 
frame house and commenced clearing and improving 
the land. He remained on that place three years, 
then exchanged it for a stock of goods in Brecken- 
ridge, Gratiot County. He conducted the mercan- 
tile business at that point for about 18 months, when 
he moved his stock of goods and family to Button- 
ville, this County, where his f;imily are at present 
residing. He came to Buttonville Nov. i, 1S82, and 
soon after arriving was taken sick. His sickness 
affected his mind, and on June 7, the following year, 
he left home and wandered into the woods, since 
which time nothing has been seen of or heard from 
him. Diligent search was made, and he was tracked 
to the woods, but there all trace of him was lost, 
and his grave is supposed to be under the shade of 
the pines. 

'; 1^1^ ohn Frederick Rose, farmer, section i6, 
'■ifv^'j Geneva Township, was born near Berlin, 
vi'V'"'*^ Prussia, March 20, 1836, and is a son of 
h& John and Mary (Spencer) Rose, both the latter 
^P of whom died in their native land, Prussia. 

l"^ The subject of this sketch landed at New 
York city April 20, 1873, went to Welland, Canada, 
and followed farming, most of the time on rented 
ground, then came to this county, arriving at North 
Bradley March i, 1880, where he settled on a quar- 
ter-section of unimproved land, which he had pur- 






1=1 

1=: 

( 



f^ 



e»3 



i 




^C^D!I^IlIi;>*r9 ^«^ 



4^^^C<I1 





■a*©*: ©VJ'^miSllll'W 



(:.' 

^ 

^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



chased the previous February on a visit here. Of 
this tract he has since deeded 40 acres to his son, 
August, and has about 20 acres cleared. 

Nov. 2, 1862, Mr. Rose married Miss Mary Ann, 
daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann (Wolf) Hoffman. 
Her mother died about 40 years ago, and her father 
about seven years ago, in Germany. Mrs. Rose was 
born Oct. 25, 1835, near Berlin, Prussia; and the 
children born to her and Mr. Rose are : August, 
born March i, 1863; Charles W., April 26, 1870; 
Otto Arndt, Dec. 7, 1872; May Ann, Feb. 11, 1875 ; 
John Frederick, Dec. 25, i860, died, near Berlin, his 
native place, Oct. 30, 1866 ; and Anna, born June 22, 
1865, near Berlin, died May 25, 1870. The first 
three above mentioned were born at the old Prussian 
home, and May Ann was born in Canada. 

Mr. Rose was in the war of 1866 between Austria 
and Prussia 16 weeks, but in no battles ; was also in 
the Franco-German war of 1 870-1, engaging in the 
battles of Metz, Strasburg and Sedan, and was sta- 
tioned at Chalons, guarding prisoners. He was in 
the last war about nine months. 

In his views of American politics, Mr. Rose main- 
tains the platform of the Republican party; is now 
holding the office of School Moderator, and both 
himself and wife are members of the German Epis- 
copal Church. 



illiam Mixer, residing at Midland City, is 
a son of William and Fanny (Dickerson) 
jj^^/^'^' Mixer; and was born in Ellisburg Town- 
j|^> ship, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1821. 
His minority was passed on a farm, attend- 
ing school in the winter seasons. Attaining his 
majority, he left home, and having learned the ship 
carpenter's trade near Sackett's Harbor, he followed 
this for a number of years. About 1854 he came to 
Marine City, St. Clair County, this State, where he 
was similarly engaged for two years. At the expira- 
tion of this time he rented a farm a mile and a half 
north of Midland City, but was soon after burned 
out, losing his household goods and clothing and part 
of his crops. In the fall of 1865 he came to Mid- 
land City and built a residence on Larkin Street, 
with four lots, where he still lives. He followed 





teaming for three or four years, then was appointed 




Deputy Sheriff, which office he held several years, 
and he is now Constable. For the last two years he 
has been chiefly occupied in training horses, in which 
he is very successful. 

He was married in Jefferson Co., N. Y., to Miss 
Adeline Read, daughter of Samuel and Sally Read, 
and a native of Jefferson County. Three daughters 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mixer. Hattie is 
now the wife of Rev. Benjamin Reeve, pastor of 
what is known as the Penoyer Farm Church (M. E.) 
at Saginaw. Addie is the wife of William Cook, a 
fanner of Midland Township. Blanche, who is still 
at home, is a teacher in the city schools. 



— ■-^' 



f\% 



-e^ 




vL 






Syron Bureh, attorney, at Midland, was 
|£ born Oct. 12, 1850, in London, Canada. 

His father, Lewis Burch, was born in the ( N 
State of New York, Aug. 8, 1825. He was a 
farmer and bridge-builder, and died Nov. 26, /A^ 
i860. The mother, Julia (Freeman) Burch, a 
was born Aug. 15, 1826, and is yet living, in London, ^» 
Canada. ^ 

Mr. Burch came to St. Clair Co., Mich , in his boy- 
hood on a -visit to friends, and several repetitions of 
his visit awakened in him a liking for the regulations 
and customs in that section of the Peninsular Slate, 
and he finally came to Brockway and engaged one 
year in teaching in the vicinity. He taught one 
winter near Lakeport in the same county, and went 
thence to Ypsilanti, for the purpose of obtaining the 
advantages of the State Normal School. He studied 
there three terms, alternating each with teaching. 
He went next to Amadore, Sanilac County, where he 
taught school one year. He also operated in a like 
capacity at Ruby, St. Clair County, and returned to 
Amadore, teaching a year at each place. As oppor- 
tunity had served, he had passed considerable time 
in reading law with Messrs. Devine & Wexon, of 
Lexington, and also at Port Huron. In the fall of 
1875 he went to Ann Arbor, where he entered the ^G) 
Law Department of the University and completed 1 
the required course of study. He came to Midland ti^ 
in the spring of 1876 and became associated with ^ 
M. H. Stanford, with whom he remained until the J^ 
fall of 1877, when he opened his present office. (vTj 
Meanwhile, in September, 1876, he was admitted to ^ 



®^«^t|- 



■^>Dii/^Da;> 



Aa=i- 



.-..ff-^:>J^(® 








I 



(b 






<9® 



■ 'J 

"5 



practice in the State Courts of Michigan at Port 
Huron. His legal practice is extended and pros- 
perous, and he combines therewith transactions in 
real estate and operates as an insurance agent, rep- 
resenting the following companies : Fire Associa- 
tion and Insurance Company of North America at 
Philadelphia, Traders' of Chicago, Northern Insur- 
ance and Norwich Union of England, and the Grand 
Rapids Insurance Company. Associated with Dr. 
W. E. Burtless, he owns upwards of 2,000 acres of 
land in Larkin Township, and has other heavy real- 
estate interests. In 1878 he acted as Attorney and 
Clerk of the village of Midland. He is a member of 
the Masonic Order. 

The marriage of Mr. Burch to Lena Cline occurred 
June 15, 1872, at Port Huron. The three children 
which constituted the issue of this marriage were 
born as follows: Lewis, June 6, 1874, at Amadore; 
Floyd, June 8, 1876; Edna was born Jan. 8, 1881, 
and died .Sept. i, 1882. The two youngest were 
born at Midland. 



! f B. Simons, farmer, merchant and shingle 

Si manufacturer, residing at Coleman, Warren 
r ^ Township, was born Oct. ig, 1846, in Ayl- 

mer, Onl. 

The father of Mr. Simons, John K. Simons, 

was born Oct. 19, 1810, in West Flamboro, 
Can., and died in Aylmer, Ont., in June, 1868, and 
was of Scotch descent. The mother, Margaret 
(Hopkins) Simons, was born June 22, 1812, in East 
Flamboro, and is of English and German descent. 
Slie is living with her son, the subject of this notice, 
with whom slie has resided for seven years. The 
father's family consisted of eight children, all of 
whom lived to the age of maturity e-xcept two. One 
died at the age of four years and the other in in- 
fancy. 

T. B. Simons, the subject of this biographical 
notice, remained under the parental roof-tree until 
he attamed the age of 17 years, when he came to 
this State, but shortly afterward, on the death of his 
father, returned to Canada and assisted Iiis mother 
in conducting a bakery, which his father had left, 
for a few years. 

In 1870 he came back to this county, and with 





the exception of one year has resided here ever 
since. He was united in marriage July 3, 1876, to 
Miss Mary E., daughter of S. W. and Lorinda (Ben- 
nett) Hubbell. Her father's family were the second 
to locate on the present site of Coleman, this county, 
Ira Adams and his family being the first, and only 
settling three days previous to Mr. Hubbell. The 
railroad was not completed to Coleman when Mrs. 
Simons' parents settled there, and the hand of im- 
IJrovement was hardly visible. He (Mr. Hubbell) 
brought the first shingle mill to that place (Mr. Ira 
Adams the first saw-mill), and the family of Mr. 
Hubbell underwent all the trials of pioneer life. 
They lived in a tent for six weeks, and during the 
entire time were not discommoded by rain. Mr. 
Hubbell's family consisted of 15 children. He 
lived in Coleman for seven years and then moved to 
Tuscola Co., this State, where he is engaged in 
farming. 

Mr. Simons was born June 11, 1857, in "Big 
Flats," Chemung Co., N. Y. She has borne four 
children to her husband, two ot whom are deceased. 
The living are Frank Wm., born Feb. 19, 1882, in 
Coleman, and an infant, born Feb. 29, 1884, at Cole- 
man. The deceased are Gertrude, born April 6, 
1877, and died Feb. 14, 1879; and Leonard, born 
Sept. II, 1880, and died Sept. 17, 1882. 

After his marriage to Miss Hubbell, Mr. Simons 
took his bride to Saginaw and was there engaged in 
buying and selling shingles and in conducting the 
running of a shingle-mill as employe for about a 
year. He then returned to Coleman, in 1877, and 
took charge of the mill his father-in-law, Mr. Hub- 
bell, had erected at that place, and lived in the same 
house his father-in-law had vacated. He soon after- 
ward purchased the mill property and ran it for his 
own profit. 

Mr. Simons is a true representative, in a financial 
point of view, of what energy and perseverance, 
backed by good judgment, can accomplish. He 
started life's journey with comparatively nothing, 
and by energetic effort has banished want from the 
household, and content sits in the lap of plenty 
around the family hearthstone. He owns a shingle 
mill three miles north of Coleman, and store build- 
ing stocked with goods. His landed interests in- 
clude some 1,700 acres, 600 of which is pine timber 
land, and 1,100 acres hard wood. It is calcu|ated 
there is some six or seven million feet of pine lumber 



*.^ 



9 



^ 



c< 






( 



^ 



-^>^ r c^A ^^n g g {|t]v>a^ ^i,^ 4i^^^(®y^^ 




"7 



<-^D[l^Il!]f^-r 



-es» 



^^^S\M: 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



>J 






on his 600 acres, and he is constantly engaged — the 
year round — in converting this timber into lumber. 
The capacity of his shingle-mill per day is 45,000 
feet, which average it has maintained for the last 
three years; and Mr. Simons contemplates the utiliz- 
ation of the most of his timber in that way. 

Mr. Simons has been Township Treasurer for two 
terms, and was Highway Commissioner last year. 
He belongs to that class of citizens who are regarded 
as a benefit rather than a hindrance to the com- 
munity in which they live, and is identified with the 
moving, advancing element residing in his township. 





tohn Carrow, farmer, section 33, Homer 
|p Township, was born Sept. 3, 1850, in Nor- 
^ folk Co., Ont. He is the son of Joseph 



and Margaret (Smith) Carrow, both of whom 
are natives of Canada, and of mixed French, 
English and German extraction. They now 
reside with their son in Homer Township. Their 
family comprised two sons and four daughters. 

Mr. Carrow is the fourth child of his parents in 
order of birth, and is the second son. He came to 
Michigan in 187 1, and purchased 40 acres of land 
on section t,t,. It was in heavy timber, and he now 
owns 100 acres additional, which he has since pur- 
chased. He has cleared and finely improved 75 
acres, and has built a fine large stock and grain 
barn and a good residence. In political connection 
he is a Democrat. 



[;-f"(iCohn Sias, lumberman and farmer, resident 

■^ML^ at Midland, was born Dec. 23, 1S30, at 

.^J^F*^ Dover, Maine. He is the son of Samuel 

and Ann (McLean) Sias. His father was born 

in New Hampshire and followed the double 

occupation of a farmer and lumberman, to 

which he was reared. Mr. Sias owned a fine, farm of 

75 acres about three miles from Dover. He was 

married May 15, 1S53, at Dover, to Catherine O. 

Maddox, a native of Ellsworth, Hancock Co., Me., 

and a daughter of John H. and Eliza Maddox. Of 

this union ten children have been born — five sons 

and five daughters. One son is deceased They 




were born in the following order: Warren L., a 
merchant at Midland; Frank; John, a farmer in the 
township of Midland; Freddie, Ada B., Maud H., 
George A. and Lottie. 

In the fall of i860 Mr. Sias removed from Maine 
to Michigan and at once engaged in lumbering at 
Midland. In company with his brother, Samuel Sias, 
he bought extensive tracts of pine land, and after 
conducting their affairs jointly three years, they dis- 
solved. In 1866 Mr. Sias formed a business relation 
with Fred Babcock, which existed three years. On 
its termination, he continued the management of his 
business alone. His real estate includes 3,000 acres 
of pine land and a farm of 500 acres on sections ig, 
20 and 21. This includes 300 acres cleared and 
improved, and in first-class farming condition. It is 
largely devoted to stock-rearing. The herds on the 
place comprise a fine lot of graded Durhams and 
about a dozen thoroughbreds of the same breed, also 
some fine Southdown sheep. The place ranks among 
the most valuable and best conducted in the county. 
The buildings, orchards and farm fixtures generally 
give evidence of the character of management that 
has placed the property in its present most creditable 
condition. In his lumber interests Mr. Sias employs 
about IOC men. He is a stockholder in the Salt & 
Bromide Company at Midland. 



^-^^^^^-v^ — I- 



a Kflp?enry W. Goold, farmer, section 24, Inger- 
^.jp^r^^i soil Township, is a son of Cruth and Eliza 
i^ Goold, natives of Canada, who came to Mid- 

T^ land County in 1868, settling in this township. 

\ In the forest fires of 1871 it is supposed that 
his father lost his life, as nothing has since been 
heard of him. His mother resides in Saginaw 
County. 

He was born in the county of Simcoe, Ont., April 
10, 1849. In the spring of 1865 he came to Mich- 
igan and for 14 years has been mostly engaged in 
lumbering, in connection with farming. In 1870 he 
purchased 40 acres of land on section 23, Ingersoll 
Township, and in 1872 he added 40 acres to his 
possessions, half of which is cleared. A substantial 
and well equipped home is in prospect, under the 
good management of Mr. Goold. 

In this county, Oct. 10, 1876, Mr. Goold was mar- 









«' 

k 



^to) 






<' 

A 






"O' 



(.) 



G", 



I 



I :^ iiD;t>-^^ — ^.^j^ 




>v 






/i. 



C^. 



e^a^^ou^ 




rC>nil§IlDi^^ 



(b 




> 

/7s 



> 
) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




ried to Miss Adelaide D., daughter of Sylvester and 
Lydia Holbert, who were natives of New York State 
and now reside in Midland Township. Mrs. G. was 
born in New York State, April 5, 1856. One child, 
Freddie H., was born June 2, 18S1, to Mr. and Mrs. 
Goold. 

-•'&' — 



j|;enjamin Dean, deceased, a former resi- 
J|p dent of Midland City, was born March 
'"^ 17, 1806, at New Ashford, Berkshiie Co., 
Mass. He was of unmistakable Yankee ex- 
traction, his parents, Isaac and Rhoby (Mar- 
tin) Dean, having been born in New England 
and descended from parentage of the same nativity. 
He attained to manhood in the Bay State and re- 
ceived an excellent English education. The pre- 
dominating traits of his character became manifest 
in early life, and made him prominent through their 
strength and peculiarity. He was a keen and 
shrewd observer, reading voraciously and with wide 
scope, but reducing his ideas by reflection to the 
basis of utility. He was inherently honest ; he rec- 
ognized the principles of the golden rule in all his 
dealings with mankind, and shaped all his operations 
in accordance with his understanding of the obliga- 
tions to which every man is the heir by natural 
entail. He acquired a fund of information which is 
justly characterized only by the term marvelous, and 
his mental resources were the obedient servants of 
his demands. He was as familiar with classical 
literature as though he had completed the curriculum 
of the schools, and it would be difficult to convince 
many who knew him intimately that he was not 
college-bred. His versatility of thought and ex- 
pression was equalled only by the scope of his intel- 
lectual acquisitions. Had he chosen literature as a 
profession he would have been among its leaders. 
The kingdom of his mind was so vast that he either 
knew not its bounds or was indifferent to the possi- 
bilities It afforded, through "embarrassment of riches." 
Versificatioa and rhyme were as involuntary as his 
breath, and just as practical. They were so far from 
theory that beyond their accidental use they were 
independent of technical prosody. 

He hated and abhorred all shams with the strength 
of his strong, just nature, which admitted no sem- 
blance of falsehood or hypocrisy. Liberal, just and 




m§,\^^^^^ 



.^=1^ 



<^ii!]^nti;^' 



humane, he was the adherent of no " ism " and the 
harborer of no vague Will-o'-the-wisp ideas, in which 
the past half century has been so prolific. His 
habit of maturing conclusions detained him from 
identifying himself with movements of seeming im- 
portance; hence he never retrograded. 

He was a Spiritualist in the sense in which the 
term is accepted by Victor Cousin and other phil- 
osoi)hers who delve amid the phenomena of the 
immaterial with pure hearts. Who shall say how 
far short of Christianity are such minds, albeit they 
do not discover the touchstone which reveals the 
dependence of the human upon the divine? He 
passed through a long and arduous business career, 
and experienced the vacillations in results common 
to men of extensive and varied interests. In all his 
operations with his fellows he never swerved from 
his fundamental principle of giving due weight to 
the just claims of others. This sometimes involved 
disaster, which brought to the front the trait which 
is most reverently cherished in the memories of his 
sons. He counted no loss as absolute unless no 
one was benefited. If no good arose from his 
adversity, he mourned as did the Roman emperor 
who bewailed as lost the day in which the recording 
angel had registered no good deed on the credit side 
of his account with immortality. 

The best exposition of his character and views 
and the ([uality of his intellect may be gleaned from 
the extracts from his writings which are herein in- 
corporated. He wrote much, — any current event 
that met his views in a peculiar manner or conflicted 
with the theories he had adopted, seeming as an in- 
centive for his prolific pen, and his efforts were 
always in demand by the local press wherever he 
lived. The poetry he wrote would fill a volume, but 
he was entirely without self-consciousness in its pro- 
duction, and never had an idea of a collective pub- 
lication of his literary work. Though it found ready 
local appreciation and publicity, even that was be- 
yond his ambition for notoriety. His sole delight in 
his gift existed in giving formative expression to his 
thoughts. He read all poetical literature with avid- 
ity, but centered his tastes upon Pope's '' Essay on 
Man," which was ever the source of unlimited grati- 
fication. 

In 1859 he published the longest poem he ever 
wrote, which was named " Man in the 19th Century : 



V^ 



C^ 



$>: 



*0' 







-^v4>illi:^|]iiv->-rT 

MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^Sf^ 



) 



<^. 






'an Unsolved Problem for Classical Experts, with 
Quotations and Questions for Ecclesiastic Theorists, 

,M. D's, D. D's, LL. D's, Elders, Scribes or Pharisees 
to Solve at their Leisure." From first to last it is a 
scathing rebuke to those who pervert God's manifest 
laws to the accomplishment of their own selfish 
ends and purposes. It has the merit of equalized 
strength in every line, and quotations as samples are 
therefore inadequate, as it is a complete mosaic of 
the principles it advocates. Several are given, which 
are their own exponents : 

Fie! gentlemen; don t be alarmed ; 

Don't cry " Rebellion," " Infidel ;" 
I AM will see there's nothing harmed : 

Who made the world will rule it well. 

Were principalities and powers 

In chaos, where they all belong, 
Refreshing pentecostal showers 

Might substitute for legal wrong. 

To close this problem, I would say 

The author's universal plan 
(Though Scribes and Elders go astray) 

Will make a peer of every man. 

Or girt, or beam, or brick, or brace. 

However humble or conceited, 
Lo! all will find their proper place. 

And find the structure all completed — 

Where Nature's clock its final blow 
Will strike, and time will be no more. 

Where such immortal ideas flow 
As mortals never heard before. 

Willi these ideas I'll close my song. 

Not claiming for them aught that's new; 

However old, they may be wrong. 
However young, they may be true. 

The following lines afford a complete example of 
the versatility of his mind and the readiness with 
which Ills faculties obeyed his summons : 

the annual message of president lincoln. 
(anticipated.) 

Gentlemen of a republic distracted, 

We sit on a trembling throne, 
Reaping the fruit of the scenes we enacted, 
. The fruit of the seed we have sown. 

Our foreign relations all look very bad. 

Too gloomy to put into writing ; 
The lion and frog call us foolish and mad. 

And laugh in their sleeves at our fighting. 




The millions we've spent already is more 

Than we shall receive for our game. 
And rivers of blood stain the sea and tlie shore. 

Alas! what blind zeal for a name! ^* 

(■> 

Our army and navy are potent, alas ! 1 

To return a poor fugitive slave ; yo) 

But too big a load broke the back of the ass 
When freedom wilh us found a grave. 

By pandering too long to the genius of cotton, 

We've written our doom in the mud. 
And proved to the world our system is rotten. 

And cannot be saved but by blood. 

All the wisdom you've got, and as much again more. 

Won't save us, I fear, from our trouble ; 
Our eagle is plucked, and our ensign is tore, 

And we're all passing off like a bubble. 

I trust you will bring all your wits now to bear 

To sustain the original plan : 
Direct your attention to right everywhere. 

And think less of cotton than man. 

In the live Declaration that Jefferson wrote. 

You'll find a sublime text to think on ; 
Hence, during this session your time you'll devote 

To equalize men, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

BY TIMOTHY TWIST. 

Lee, Mass., Nov. 23, 1861. 

His abilities and character won for him unqualified 
respect, and though his incessant promulgation of his 
views invited criticism they engendered nothing 
inimical, and he lived an honored, useful life, and his 
death was sincerely lamented. Although a foe to 
so-called orthodoxy, he never wrote a word or held 
to a principle contrary to the acknowledged essence 
of Christianity; on the contrary, he urged unceasing 
warfare on the "scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites" of 
modern times. 

The parents of Mr. Dean removed in the days of 
his early life to South Adams, Mass., where his 
father operated as a tanner. On arriving at a suit- 
able age, the son became an assistant in the business 
to which he devoted many years. On embarking in 
that business for himself he combined therewith the 
manufacture of boots and shoes, according to the 
New England custom in those days. Subsequently (c^i 
himself and his brother, Stoel E. Dean, established 
the same business at a point three miles east of Pitts- 
field. They continued its management five years, 
when they converted their works into a paper-mill. 
Two years later they sold out, and Mr. Dean bought 
a tannery at Pittsfield, which he conducted four 






( 



.^^^ 



<^I]!]^IItl>1>-^' 






»' 



(ip 



@fK g8 



I 



r 
if 






>^ 



> 



) 



d 

-3 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



189 




years. In 1850 he went to East Lee, and, in com- 
pany with May Bros., engaged heavily in the manu- 
facture of letter-paper, owning three mills. This re- 
lation existed three years, when Mr. Dean sold his 
interest to his partners and went to Lee, where he 
embarked in the manufacture of bank-note paper 
with a man named Linn. The latter became a his- 
torical character during the war, through his con- 
nection with a shipment of his wares to the Soutliern 
Confederacy aljout the date of the blockade of South- 
ern ports. He was arrested, but proved that lie re- 
ceived and filled the order previous to the action of 
the United States authorities. 

In 1858 Mr. Dean closed his connection in the 
last-named business and came to Michigan, where 
he had large landed investments which had come into 
his possession through securities for his friends who 
had met reverses. He held about 9,000 acres of 
wild land, and passed the next ten years alternately 
in Michigan and Massachusetts, where his family re- 
sided until 1868, when he established his home at 
Midland City. 

Mr. Dean was the second in order of birth of seven 
children. Martin, eldest child, resides in the city of 
New York; Stoel E. lives at South Adams; Nelson 
and Alanson, twins, were next in order of birth ; the 
former is deceased, the latter is a resident of Owego, 
N. Y. 

Alanson Dean is the maker of several canes of 
unique workmanship, some of which have attained 
considerable notoriety. One was presented to Presi- 
dent Hayes on his inauguration, and also to President 
Garfield. P. T. Barnum is the owner of one, and 
the eldest son of Mr. Dean, of this sketch, holds 
another as an heirloom. It was presented to Mr. 
Dean by his daughter Alice. The latter is made of 
Virginia boxwood. The hand-rest is in the exact 
shape of a sword-hilt. The "stop" is a perfectly 
carved dog's head. On one side of the thumb rest 
is an exquisite spray of rose, leaves and bud ; and 
on the counter side are grapes and foliage, all carved. 
On the base of the hilt is a lion holding in his 
mouth and claws a serpent whose fangs are buried in 
the head of the beast. The spotted length of the 
snake forms the lower portion of the hilt, and the ex- 
tremity of the tail twines around the end of the 
thumb rest. A space of two feet on the shaft is cov- 
ered with carved lettering. The upper portion, next 
the hilt, contains the following : 



"March 17, 1806. Benjamin Dean. Midland, 
Michigan. Dec. 25, 1879. The chief of earthly arts 
is the art of keeping always young. It is very diffi- 
cult to grow old gracefully. Compliments of Alice. 
It is not what you have in your chest, but what you 
have in your heart, that makes you rich. Family 
Record: Jerusha Dewey, born Dec. ig, 1816; Benj. 
Franklin Dean, July 12, 1839; Cecile E. Dean, Feb. 
12, 1841; Caroline J. Dean, Nov. 4, 1843; Gertrude 
R. Dean, Sept. i, 1845; Stoel E. Dean, Nov. 4, 
1847; Alice B. C. Dean, April 29, 1850; Nelson K. 
Dean, May 12, 1852; Mary A. Dean, March 8, 1854; 
Jessie F. Dean, June 23, 1856. Revelation 9: 7, 8: 
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses 
prepared unto battle, and on their heads were crowns 
like gold, and their faces were as faces of men, and 
they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth 
were as the teeth of lions.'" 

In this there are six hieroglyphics of the locusts, 
horses, crowns, men, women and lions. The in- 
scriptions pass around the cane spirally below the 
family record, the above being in relief The follow- 
ing is countersunk: "I find the great thing in the 
world is not so much where we stand as in what 
direction we are moving." The cane is a marvel of 
hand-carving, every portion of which was done with 
a "jack-knife," and represents 50 days of labor of ten 
hours each. The maker has been for many years a 
sufferer from a nervous disease, and "whittled" for 
relief, finally utilizing the specific in the manufacture 
of canes. The one referred to as being presented to 
President Hayes was sent to him in 1876. The fol- 
lowing description is from the pen of the ex-Executive 
of the United States, a portrait and condensed sketch 
of whom appears in its assigned order in the first part 
of this volume : 

Fremont, O., 23 June, 1884. 

The cane referred to is well remembered. It is 
beautifully carved by a skilled and careful hand. It 
was from A. P. Dean, Owego, N. Y., in 1876. The 
head or handle projects at right-angles from the cane 
and is about six inches long. On the extreme end 
is carved " A. P. Dean." On one side of the end of 
the handle is a little girl sitting on a handsome long- 
haired dog; on the other side is a child resting 
against a tiger. On the cane at the topis the follow- 
ing: "1776-1876 — Centennial." Next below it is, 
" Owego, N. Y." On the side at this point is the 
coat-of-arms of the United States, — eagle, arrows 
and stars. On the other side is carved an anchor, and 



(^ 



^ 



c^: 






--\®^^<|.. 



^ ^f 



<.^II!l§Iltlvt>A 



d. 



-^^ 





V 






>^ 



■^ 

s 



) 



(^ 



190 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



above it, " Hope." Next below on the outside, "Oct. 4, 
1822." On the side is the legend, "Temperance is 
a bridle of gold. He who uses it rightly is more like 
a God than a man." On the opposite side is, "Ruther- 
ford B. Hayes, Governor of Ohio." Next below is 
carved, " Behold, I send you forth as [here are carved 
three sheep] in the midst of [here are four wolves]. 
Be ye therefore as wise as [here two serpents] and 
harmless as [here four doves]." Next below, around 
the cane, "Matthew 10:16." Next below is carved, 
" The way to fame is like the way to heaven, — through 
much tribulation," and by the side begins and runs 
around the cane spirally the following: "The 
[here are two foxes] have [here is a fox entering a 
hole and another hole is near it] and [here are two 
birds] of the air have [a nest with eggs]; but the [a 
boy] of [a man sitting] liath not where to lay his [a 
man's head]. Matthew 8:20." Next around the cane 
is carved," Mythology," and below, Pegasus [a winged 
horse], and Nereid [a female figure on a dolphin]. 
Next below are a sphinx (a lion with a woman's head) 
and a sea-horse (the figure of a sea horse). The lower 
end is a handsome silver ferule and the usual point. 
The foregoing will give you no idea of the appear- 
ance of the cane, but shows very well the labor and 
pains taken by Mr. Dean in its workmanship. 

R. B. Haves. 

Mr. Dean was married Dec. 19, 1816, in Lenox, 
Mass., to Jerusha Dewey, daughter of Erastus and 
Matilda (Millard) Dewey. The sketches of B. F. 
Dean, S. E. Dean and N. K. Dean, the tiiree sons 
born of this marriage, will be found elsewhere in this 
volume. Cecile E. died Sept. 13, 1865, at 24 years 
of age, in the full flush of her young and promising 
life: Gertrude R. married Charles Taylor, of Lee, 
Mass., and died March 3, 1S70; Alice married G. 
W. Foole, of Pittsfield, Mass.; Mary A. is Mrs. Wil- 
liam Plumer (see sketch), of Midland City; Jessie is 
the wife of George A. Rockwell, also of Midland 
City. 

Mr. Dean died April 27, iSSo, of a disease of the 
stomach. The wife and mother died April 17, 1883. 
Li their portraits, which appear on other pages, are 
fair types of the element so often found in collecting 
historical data of the Peninsular State. They came 
of the stock which established the stability of New 
England ; they brought their resources to the West 
and founded their house and home. Passing to the 
land of the hereafter, they left their honorable name 
in the keeping of their bons, who are worthily fulfill- 
ing their trust. 





i!(;enry Stuart, farmer, section 32, Midland 



^jM^* Township, is a son of Silas and Polly 
(Kimplin) Stuart, parents natives of the Green 
Mountain State. He was born in Orleans Co., 

I N. Y., April II, 1836; when 12 years of age he 

' came to Genesee County, this State, where he 
remained 16 years, engaged in farming; and in 
August, 1864, he came to Midland County and 
bought 80 acres on section 32, Midland Township, 
where he has since resided and at present has 66 
acres in a good tillable condition. 

Mr. Stuart was married in Genesee Co., Mich., 
Aug. 30, 1863, to Sarah A. Richardson, a native of 
Canada. They have had five children — Lenora B., 
George D. and an infant, living, and Eugene and an 
infant, deceased. 

Mr. Stuart has been Overseer of Highways, and 
was appointed a member of the committee to examine 
the roll of Supervisors in 1882. Of national issues, 
Mr. S. maintains Democratic views. 




^aharles Martindale, farmer, section 29, 
"jfiB^rS^ Midland Township, is a son of Alpheus 



w]ij< and Eliza (Angell) Martindale, natives of 
f)L Vermont. He was born in Genesee Co., N. 
'1^ Y., April 16, 1832. He remained under the 
parental roof-tree until 20 years of age, as- 
sisting in the maintenance of the family and attend- 
ing the common schools. On attaining that age, for 
four years he was employed in a shingle manufac- 
tory, and then came to Wayne County, this State. 
He remained there for about three years and then 
went to St. Clair County, where he was variously 
employed for six years. From the latter county he 
moved to Sanilac County, where he remained until 
the summer of 1871. During that season he came 
to this county and purchased 40 acres of wild land 
on section 29, Midland Township, where he has 
since resided. He now has good substantial build- 
ings erected on his land, and about 37 acres under 
cultivation. 

Mr. Martindale was united in marriage in Sanilac 
County, Nov. 3, 1S55, to Miss Ann, daughter of 
Joseph Marshall, a native of Canada. She was 



<e 



A 



^. 



V 



f^®*- 



^c^nn^niif^' 



r^ 





®)$^^fl'' 



^®- 



r^^ — ^vc^nn^nti^^v^ 



— <SSfe*?;'S" 






i 

T 



,'i 



'^ 



I 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



191 



born in that county, and was the mother of eight 
children, five of whom, William, Almeda, Ida, Hay- 
don and Mary, are living: Demaline (ist) died when 
three years old ; Demaline (2d) was killed by being 
run over; and Alden died when one month old. 

The mother and wife died Aug. 14, 1877, and Mr. 
Martindale was a second time married Nov. 3, 1878, 
to Miss Ann Valentine, a native of New York. 

Mr. Martindale, politically, is a National. He has 
held the office of Highway Commissioner three 
years and School Assessor one year. He enlisted 
in 1864, in Co. B, loth Mich. Vol. Inf., and 
served nine months, receiving his discharge at 
Washington, D. C. He participated in Sherman's 
march to the sea. 




•<-*^4^->>" 



i elson K. Dean, farmer, section 24, Homer 
Township, was born in the township of 
'^ Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass., May 12, 1852. 
His parents, Benjamin and Jerusha, (Dewey) 
Dean, were natives of Massachusetts, and in 
1854 moved their family and interests 'o 
Becket Township, in the same county. Ten years 
later they came to Midland, where they resided dur- 
ing the remainder of their lives. 

Mr. Dean is the seventh of nine children born to 
his parents, and is the youngest of three sons. He 
remained a member of the paternal household until 
his marriage, which occurred Sept. t4, 1875, to 
Elizabeth S. Stowits, daughter of Henry B. and Car- 
oline C. (Huff) Stowits. (See sketch of H. B. 
Stowits ) She was born in Grand Blanc, Genesee 
Co., Mich., Aug. 13, 1854. Her parents removed to 
Midland County when she was 13 years old. Later 
she went back to Genesee County, where she re- 
mained until 1874, when she returned to Midland 
County, and during the following year she was 
married. Mrs. Dean is a woman of decided char- 
acter and justly appreciated in the community where 
she resides. After the event of his marriage, Mr. 
Dean took possession of his farm of 160 acres, which 
is finely situated at the junction of Chippewa and 
Pine Rivers. He has improved 90 acres and placed 
it under a high degree of cultivation. The place is 
rated among the most valuable in the county. In 
political connection Mr. Dean is a Republican, and 



he has discharged the duties of his citizenship in 
the various local township and county and school 
offices. 









^ 



ijjKSHftlexander Dunn, farmer, section 10, Geneva 
\ Township, is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, 





where he was born Jan. 12, 1843. 

The parents of Mr. Dunn were George and 
Agnes (Curry) Dunn, and were of Scotch de- 
scent. They emigrated to America when Alexander 
was five years of age, in 1848, and landed at Quebec, 
Can. The father purchased a farm in Gray Co., 
Ont., of 50 acres, but soon sold it and purchased an- 
other consisting of 100 acres and located about six 
miles distant from the first. 

On the latter named farm Alexander lived and de- 
veloped into manhood. On attaining his majority he 
engaged in working on various farms by the month 
and followed that vocation for four or five years, when 
he came to this State. 

The first work he engaged at on arriving in this 
State was for the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad 
Company, at Linden. He remained in their employ 
for six or seven months and then went back to Can- 
ada, on business and pleasure, but soon returned to 
Birmingham, this State, and engaged in railroading 
for another season. His next move was to Loomis, 
Isabella Co., where he worked for the Flint & Pere 
Marquette Railroad Company one year. After leav- 
ing tlieir employ, he purchased 80 acres of wild land 
from a party who had homesteaded it. There was a 
small shanty on the place and the trees had been 
cut on a few acres, but no clearing had been done. 
Mr. Dunn moved on this land, on section 20, Geneva 
Township, in May, 1875, and has made it his resi- 
dence ever since. 

June 4, 1873, Mr. Dunn was united in marriage to 
Harriet, daughter of Peter and Eliza (Shell) De 
Groat. Her father died while serving his country in 
the late civil war, and the mother is living with her 
daughter at Buttonville. Mrs. Dunn was born March 
9, 1855, in Dorchester Co., Quebec. 

The husband and wife are the parents of four 
children, namely: Agnes E., born Aug. 20, 1874; 






r 

i; 



§%-r^:^m^ — 2^^ gV<::IlllS{lil>> 



) 






2 

/ 



Charles H., born Feb. 7, 1876; James Alex., born 
Nov. 9, 1877 ; and Etta May, born Jan. 30, 1881. 

Politically, Mr. Dunn is a Greenbacker. He has 
lield tlie offices of School Treasurer, and he and his 
wife are members of the Baptist Church. 




*^^€^'-SP 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



illiam M. Wallace, farmer and lumber- 
man on section 11, Homer Township, was 
born in the State of New York, Feb. 29, 
1840, and when a child his parents moved 
to Ontario, Can. He lived in that province 
with his parents until 18 years old, and was 
then apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade. He 
served his time, and then worked as a journeyman. 
In 1872 he came to Michigan, and the ensuing two 
years he worked in Newaygo County, on the Muske- 
gon River. In the spring of 1874 he came to Mid- 
land County, and one year later he purchased ten 
acres of land on section 11, Homer Township. Here 
he has since farmed in the summer season, and fol- 
lowed lumbering in the winters. He is a Republi- 
can, and has held various school offices. 

He was united in marriage Dec. 25, 1S62, in Ox- 
ford Co., Ont., to Miss Mary J. Martin, who was 
born in that county April 12, 1842. Of this mar- 
riage there have been born three sons and one 
daughter; one of the former, and the daughter are 
dead. 



vv^^f-^^S-v^^v-J- 




homas .T. Richardson, farmer, section 35, 

Midland Township, is a son of Thomas and 

Esther D. (Mann) Richardson, the former 

a native of Massachusetts and the latter of 

Canada. Mr. Richardson, Sr., died in that 

Dominion, and his widow came to Midland 

about 1866, and died in January, 1873. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Canada 
March 26, 1846, and was seven years of age when he 
came to this State with his mother; at the age of nine 
he went to live with a farmer in Genesee Co., Mich., 
until of age, but at the end of four years he left, to 
work out by the month, which he did for six years. 
In February, 1863, he came to this county and 
worked in the woods during the winters and at car- 



pentering in the summer time, until 1873, when he 
moved upon the farm owned by H. M. Ellsworth, 
where he has since resided. He has been School 
Assessor of his district for three years, and in politics 
is a Republican. 

Mr. R. was married in Midland City, March 26, 
1872, to Mary E., daughter of H. M. and Rosetta 
(Whittington) Ellsworth, born in Midland Township 
July 23, 1S52. Mr. and Mrs. R. are the parents of 
six children, namely: Marion A., Arthur T., William 
M., Morley E., Sarah M. and Leo C. 

Mr. Ellsworth was a native of New York State, 
came to this county in 1850, at first buying 30 acres 
in Midland Township, to which he added 59 acres 
by subsequent purchase, and at the time of his death, 
Sept. 14, 1882, had almost 50 acres under cultiva- 
tion. He owned also considerable property in Mid- 
land City. He was County Sheriff four years and 
Township Treasurer several years. In early times 
Mr. Ellsworth took considerable delight in the chase. 
He would often go out in the morning and bring in 
as many as three deer before nine o'clock. His wife 
was a native of the Key-stone State. Their chil- 
dren are, Amanda C, Lois A., Mary E. and Melvina 
L. Mrs. E. now resides in California. 



^JS-l 




?!; 



r 









WMr 



®>^fe^'l 



A 



toseph Hooper, farmer, section i, Edenville 
11^ Township, was born Oct. 20, 1843, in Corn- 
wall, England, and is the son of Edward 
and Merrell (Higgins) Hooper. The father 
died in England; the mother resides in Camp- 
bellford. Can., and has remarried. 
Mr. Hooper spent his early life in his native land. 
He belonged to a class among whom the point of 
self-sustenance is one of the first prominence in the 
education of the young. At the age of nine years 
Mr. Hooper commenced his struggle with life in the 
capacity of a farm laborer. In r857 he came to 
America and settled at Coburg, Can., where he was 
employed by the month as a farm laborer until 1865, 
when he went to Monroe Co., N. Y., and engaged as 
assistant on the seed farm of R. W. Wilson, m the ■ ■ 
vicinity of the city of Rochester. He served in that 
capacity five years, and in the fall of 1869 he came ^' 
to Edenville Township, where he bought, in 187 i, an (i,\ 
unimproved farm of 50 acres, of which he has im- ^ 



r 



dm-^M^^^^^- 



#t^(®>^ 



— yt.-^ 

V 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



"i^^isi^fi^ 



#^^c®vii 



193 



^ 



.'5) 



proved 40 acres. The first two years he passed in 
Midland County he worked a farm on shares. 

Mr. Hooper was married Oct. 5, 1865, to Isabella, 
daughter of A. L. and Harriet (Wait) McAllister. 
Her father was a native of Vermont, and of Scotch 
descent. He died July i, 1 861, at Vernon ville, Can. 
The mother was born in Canada, of Welsh parentage, 
Mrs. Hooper was born Aug. 14, 1841. Mary Emma, 
eldest child, was born Aug. 12, 1866, in Monroe Co., 
N. Y. Amelia Belle was born Jidy 16, 1872. Hes- 
ter Luella was born June 13, 1874. The last 
named children were born at Edenville, Mich. The 
parents are members of the Seventh-Day Adventist 
denomination. Mr. Hooper has been Highway Com- 
missioner two terms and Township Treasurer one 
term. 




i 



f olin O. Parker, railroader, residing at But- 

^^ tonville, Geneva Township, was born in 

-''^^ Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., April 21, 1839, 

and is a son of Henry and Nancy A. (Norton) 

Parker. 

The father of our subject was born Oct. 28, 
1804, in New York, and died June 8, 1873, in this 
county. He was of Welsh, Dutch, French, Danish 
and Irish descent. The mother was born Feb. 25, 
1809, in Pennsylvania, and was descended from the 
English, Scotch and Irish. She is still living, with 
the subject of this biographical notice. The father 
and mother moved from New York to Washtenaw Co., 
this State, in 1847, ^.nd there purchased a farm of 
160 acres. They lived on that farm for ten years, 
when they sold it and moved to Oakland County, 
and purchased another on wliich tliey resided for 
seven years. 

John O. remained on the farm, assisting the 
father, until the expiration of the time last men- 
tioned, and then, for two summers, engaged in farm- 
ing by the month. He then went to Hampton, 
Rock Island Co., 111., and purchased 40 acres of land 
in that viciniry, also some village property. He 
made Hampton his residence for ten years, and dur- 
ing that time visited Washington, Oregon and the 
Indian Territories. 

When the news was flashed across the continent 
that Sumter had fallen" and the martyr Lincoln 




called for brave hearts and strong arms to battle for 
the perpetuity of the Nation's flag, Mr. Parker, 
whose heart beat in unison with the cause of justice, 
responded. He enlisted in Co. D, Ninth 111. Cav., 
Col. Harper. His company was attached to the 
Fifth Division, Second Brigade, and was under com- 
mand of Gen. Nelson and Gen. Hatch. He partici- 
pated with his company in the, battles of Chicka- 
mauga, Nasliville, Corinth, Lookout Mountain, and 
all through "Sherman's march to the sea." He was 
in 72 battles and skirmishes, and was wounded only 
twice during his entire service. His first wound was 
in the right leg, just below the knee, and was received 
at Chickamauga. The second wound was a saber 
cut on the right hand, and was received at the battle 
of Corinth. Neither of his wounds incapacitated 
him from service for any considerable length of time, 
nor was he sent to the hospital. His record as a 
soldier is certainly a brilliant one, and his escape 
from death, considering the numerous engagements 
in which he participated, would seem to be miracu- 
lous. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, 
111., having been mustered out at Selma, Dallas Co., 
Ala., Nov. 18, 1865. 

On receiving his discharge, Mr. Parker returned to 
his farm near Hampton, Rock Island Co., 111. He 
remained on the farm for about a year, when he went 
to Chester, Randolph Co., same State, and engaged 
in buying wood for the St. Louis market. He re- 
mained in that business for some eight months and 
lost over $r, 000 at it. His next move was to Ari- 
zona, where he engaged in herding cattle, in which 
vocation he remained until the year 1873, when he 
returned to Hampton, 111. He only remained at 
Hampton a short time and then came to Midland, 
this county. Remaining at Midland three weeks, he 
went to Averill, and engaged with the Flint and 
Pere Marquette Railroad Company, laying their 
track, and continued in its service for 14 months. 
Oct. 16, 1874, he went to Buttonville, and has re- 
sided tliere ever since, in charge of a gang of track 
repairers. 

Mr. Parker was united in marriage. May g, 1874, 
to Julia A., daughter of Joseph and Julia A. (Hos- 
kins)Danoe. Her father died when she was five 
years old, in Canada. Her mother is still living in 
Sycamore, De Kalb Co., 111., aged 60 years. Mrs. D. 
was born Aug. 7, 1855, in Lansdowne, Leeds Co., 
Ontario. She has borne Mr. D. three children — Her- 




C N 



^ 



&> 






-^.ih 



-^^W^ @!AC^fl!]^Iini>i^ 




'^f>r^^m^^ 



^T^M'Mh^-:- 



194 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



bert L., Feb. 15, 1875 ; Luella M., Sept. i, 1877 ; 
and Ira J., Feb. 26, 1883. 

Mr. Parker is a Republican politically, and is pres- 
ent Drain Commissioner He and wife are both 
members of the Methodist Episcopal ChLirch. 




-KJ 



h h 



'T^T 



A J. 



€S- 



tmos Braley, farmer, section 35, Midland 



) 



^ 



r-T 

1=3 



^) 



ij)/3j. J i Township, is a son of Ephraim and Patience 
(Deranville) Braley, who were natives of Mas- 
sachusetts, and of American and French de- 
scent. He was born in Massachusetts Feb. 
3, 1820, and at the age of three years his parents 
moved with him to New York State, where he at- 
tended school and worked on the farm until he came 
to Michigan. He first lived in Saginaw County 
awhile, and then, in December, 1854, he came to this 
county, where he has since resided. After various 
purchases and sales from time to time, he now owns 
a tract of 76 acres in Midland Township, 35 acres of 
which is in a tillable condition. 

Mr. Braley, in political affairs, is a Republican, has 
held the offices of Assessor and Pathmaster, and, 
with his wife, belongs to the VVesleyan Methodist 
Church. He was married in Saginaw County, Nov. 
15, 1842, to Miss Marilda Foster, who was born in 
Oakland Co., Mich., Oct. 12, 1827. They have two 
children, — Emily M. and Oliver A. 



I 



L'ohn J. Watts, farmer on section 14, Eden- 
,'- ville, was born Dec. 8, 1844, in Whitby, 
'■' Can., the son of John and Flora (Pollard) 
Watts, of English descent. The father died in 
Bosanquet, Lambton Co., Can., in November, 
1854. The mother died at the same place 
19, 1870. Their family included five sons and 
three daughters, all of whom reached maturity except 
one, which died in childhood. They are named 
Grace, Isaac (deceased), Phoebe, Maria (deceased), 
Jordan (died in childhood), John J., Richard J. and 
George. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was reared 
on a farm, and remained vi^ith his father until of age. 






He then followed lumbering in winter and farming in 
summer until 1870, when he came to Saginaw Coun- 
ty, this State. There he was similarly engaged for 
four years, owning a farm of 200 acres. Selling this, 
he then came to Edenville Township, this county, 
and bought his present farm of 136 acres. He par- 
chased of two farmers, and each tract had some im- 
provements. To the value of these he has greatly 
added. He is unmarried, and liis sister, a widow 
lady, keeps house for him. 

Politically, he is a Democrat. He took out his 
naturalization papers but two years ago. As a 
farmer and a citizen he stands exceptionally high 
in his community. 



•'^ami/(S^^~^^^^^:-,-'^®fima^ 



JSiharles Kirtay, farmer, section 10, Geneva 
j^ Township, was born in the town of Law- 
rence, Lawrence Co., N. Y., March 7, 1833, 
and is a son of Charles R. and Ann (Warren) 
Kirby. His father was a native of New Eng- 
land, of Puritan stock, and died in Plattsburg, N. Y. 
Charles' mother was born in the Empire State, of 
Puritan ancestry, and died also in Plattsburg. 

When the subject of this sketch attained his legal 
majority he worked in a saw-mill for five years; then, 
for four years, he ran a stage, on the John Brown 
tract in Franklin Co., Northern New York, from 
Martin's Hotel to Keysville; thence he went to Mill 
Point, Canada, and worked in a mill three or four 
months; then for a year he followed teaming for 
Horton & Wisner at Saginaw, Mich.; next, was in a 
mill again for four years; and finally, about 12 or 14 
years ago, he came to Midland County and worked 
around for a time in mills and in lumbering. He 
then located his present homestead, and about two 
years afterward purchased it. At first he had 80 
acres, but he has sold 40 acres, of which 15 are im- 
proved. 

Mr. Kiri)y is a Republican in his political senti- 
ments, and he holds the office of Justice of the 
Peace. 

He was married May 18, 1864, to Miss Harriet E., 
daughter of Henry and Laura (Tripp) Plew. Her 
father, a Hollander, was born May 6, 18 16, and her 
mother April 13, 1823, and they are living at Clio, 



% 






^ 

< 



(q) 







mmm^ 



z. 



-I^i^(® 




-^^&K 6VC>tl lli^ M^> 



^v 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



1 95 



Genesee Co., Mich. Of the ii children in her 
father's family all are living, and she is the eldest 
daughter and second child, and was born Feb. 13, 
1847, in the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kirby have had five children, only one of whom is 
living. Viella E., born March 10, 1865, died Jan. 4, 
1883; Franklin, born July lo, 1868, died July 5, 
187 1 ; Freddie, born Sept. 27, 1870, died Nov. 24, 
following; Etta May, born May 14, 1873, died June 4, 
following; and Pely C, born May 30, 1877, is living. 
As no pain is so intense as the loss of a child, the 
affliction suffered by this family must be beyond all 
description, if not even beyond all imagination also. 





V 



I 



\ than Taft, farmer, section 20, Midland 

Township, is a son of Jesse and Sabra 

|i<gTjc"w, (A.ldrich) Taft, natives of Rhode Island^ 

^^ of whose family of four sons and three daugh- 

A ters he was the youngtjjt son. 

He was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., March 
10, 1830, and at the age of t8 he bought his time, 
and for 25 years he followed farming in Pennsyl- 
- J vania, except the nine months he was in the army. 
He enlisted in August, 1864, in the 207 th Pa. Vol. 
Inf., and participated in the general engagement at 
Fort Stedman and the siege of Petersburg. On ac- 
count of heavy firing, his hearing was partially 
destroyed. In 1S77 he returned to New York State, 
and about a year afterward, in July, 1878, he came 
with his family to Midland County and bought 161 
acres of land in Midland and Homer Townships. 
He has since added 88 acres to his estate, and now 
owns 249 acres. He has about 140 acres in good 
tillable condition. 

Mr. Taft is member of Dwight May Post, No. 69, 
G. A. R., at Midland, in politics he acts with the 
Republican party, and in religion both he and Mrs. 
T. are in sympathy with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

In Pennsylvania, July 3, 1852, Mr. Taft married 
^ Mary S., a daughter of Prince and Sally King, who 
/^ were natives of New England. Mrs. T. was born in 
Pennsylvania, July 27, 1836, and the children of Mr. 



i 



V 



and Mrs. Taft now are Stephen B., Lilis L., Dora A. 
(who died when little more than two years of age), 
Jesse P., Ethan E. and Mary R. 








illiam C. Plumer is a farmer on section 
22, Midland Township. His parents, 
Vf>5»P Joseph and Jemima (Alley) Plumer, were 
born in New York, moved from Jefferson 
County, that State, 10 Orleans County, and 
about 1866 came to Oakland Co., Mich., where the 
former died, in February, 1879; the latter is still 
living, a resident of that county. Their children 
were Moses, John, William C, Elizabeth, Mary and 
Sarah. 

The youngest son, the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., May 18, 1840; from the 
age of 18 to 24 he was in Wisconsin, employed in a 
hotel and otherwise; and since 1870 he has been a 
resident of this county. His present farm of 30 
acres he traded for in 1882. He owns 130 acres in 
Midland County, and has 20 acres under cultivation. 
He also owns numerous village lots in the city of 
Midland. Politically he is in sympathy ivith the 
Republican party. 

He was married in Midland City, Feb. 5, 1872, to 
Miss Mary A., daughter of Benjamin and Jerusha 
(Dewey) Dean. (See sketch of Benjamin Dean.) 
Mrs. Plumer was born in Lee, Mass., March 8, 1854. 
Her family now comprises three children, viz.: 
Cecile A., Alice S. and Arthur D. She is a member 
of the Presbyterian Church. 



EjsH^S^ 



|iiM'i hilip Flock, farmer, residing at Edenville, 
I ySl£ was born in Hamilton, Can., July 10, 1827, 



Jjifej- ^"'^ '^ '•'^^ *°'^ '^^ Philip and Ellen (Hoff- 
Jijg "^ man) Flock. The parents were natives of 
'iv Pennsylvania. The father died in Canada. 

The mother resides in Waterford, in the Dominion, 

and is about 70 years of age. 

Mr. Flock obtained his education in the common 

schools of Canada and was under the guidance of his 

mother until he attained his majority, his father hav- 



I 



•^ 
< 

d 



«s^ 



.dci. 



^C^D g^ i;^A-^i ^s^C3^ 





^Sii>- 



^djr<i:si£r'isu. 



<':\imm>'T 



-^sC^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



J 






i) 



\ 



^ 






ing died previous to that date. He remained and 
worked on the lionie place until he was 25 years old. 
He was married Feb. 5, 1856, to Joanna, daughter 
of John W. and EUinor (Robbins) Grover. Her 
parents were natives of Pennsylvania. They died 
and were buried at Edenville. Mrs. Flock was born 
June 10, 1836. Following is the record of the three 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Flock: Geddes P. 
was born Nov. 24, 1857, at Fredericksburg, Can., 
and has been a salesman in the store of Ralph Dun- 
ton ten years. He has been Township Clerk seven 
years. Samuel W. was born Aug. 16, 1858, at Wind- 
ham, Can. Carrie was born May 21, 1868, at Eden- 
ville. 

Mr. Flock conducted a hotel at Fredericksburg the 
year following his marriage, and then returned to the 
old homestead, which he managed two years, after 
which he engaged in coopering. He employed a 
force of men to work at the business and continued 
its management seven years, with satisfactory results. 
At the end of that time he again spent two years in 
farming on the family homestead. In 1867 he came 
to Michigan, arriving at Saginaw on the 15 th day of 
November. Four days later he came to this-' county 
and engaged in keeping a hotel at Averill Station. A 
year after he bought a town lot at Edenville and 
built a house, where he has since resided. In 1869 
he bought 40 acres of land on section 13, Edenville, 
and in February, 1877, he purchased another 40 
acres, in Tobacco Township, Gladwin County. On 
each of these pieces of property he has made fine 
improvements. Mr. Flock has been School Director 
eight years and Township Treasurer one year. 



j.j VjKaL-j fw 



/Jra0\li;.,ugald C, Mclntyre, farmer on section 31^ 
' '^MiSl. Midland, is a son of Jacob and Anna 
•^ji^ijfy ^ (McCall) Mclntyre, natives of Pennsylva- 
t)>« nia and Scotland, respectively; and he was 
^ born in Elgin Co., Can., Dec. 28, 1840. He 
* lived in the Dominion until 12 years old, then 
was employed for three years in a pail and tub fac- 
tory at Detroit, and from 1855 to 1867 followed the 
lakes as a sailor. The last seven years of this ])eriod 
he held the position of mate. In 1870 he came to 
Oakland Co., this State, where two years later he 
bought a farm. This he cultivated until 1876, in the 




spring of which year he made an exchange of prop- 
erty and came to this county, where he has since 
made his residence. He has a nice farm of 80 acres, 
half of which is under cultivation. 

Nov. 19, 1 87 1, in Northville, Oakland Co., Mich., 
he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss 
Anna, daughter' of George and Barbara Weber. 
Both parents and daughter were born in Switzerland. 
Mrs. Mclntyre was born Dec. 25, 1853. Carl A., 
Barbara L. and Willie S. are the children now grow- 
ing up under the parental care of Mr. and Mrs. 
Mclntyre. The father is in political sentiment a 
Republican, and he has been Deputy Sheriff, Con- 
stable and School Director (five terms). He is a 
member of the Masonic Order. Mrs. McI. is a faith- 
ful member of the Baptist Church. 



^j #-# y- 

('^'-toelE. Dean, farmer, section i, Ingersoll 
i^"^ Township, is a son of Benjamin and 
^ ' Jerusha (Dewey) Dean, natives of Massa- 




chusetts, and resided in Berkshire County. 
His father was extensively engaged in various 
manufacturing interests until about 1862, when 
he disposed of his interests there, having come to 
Michigan and settled in Midland, where he became 
a prominent citizen, a leader in the interests of the 
county and a safe counselor in public affairs. He 
died in this county, April 27, 1880, and his widow 
April 17, 1883. They had six daughters and three 
sons, namely: Benj. F., Cecile E., Jerusha C, Ger- 
trude R., Stoel E., Alice B. C, Nelson K., Mary A. 
and Jessie F. Carrie died in infancy, and the re- 
maining children grew up. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Pittsfield, 
Mass., Nov. 4, 1847. At the age of 22 he purchased 
a farm in Berkshire County, which he managed about 
eight years, and in December, 1S77, came with his 
family to this county and bought 500 acres of land 
mostly in the "stump," in the vicinity of Coleman. 
He settled on his father's old place of 150 acres, 
which he had deeded to him : 140 acres of this is in 
good tillable condition. He cut annually about 100 
tons of hay, and keeps 70 head of sheep, 25 head of 
cattle and 5 head of horses. He also owns 60 acres 
in Bay County, mostly improved. It is claimed that 
Mr. Dean has the finest farm in Midland County. 



w 
r 



*<_ 



' 









r^ 






fS^'g'^f**^ 



-<-^Qa>^i]i)^:>- 



T^ 



*-*-5r7' 



y^^:sif^ 




<>llll^fltl^> 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






Mr. Dean has been Township Supervisor one year, 
and politically he sides with the "Nationals." 

In Lee, Mass., Nov. 15, 1871, Mr. Dean mariied 
Lovica A., a daughter of Luke L. and Annis L. 
(Chapel) Dennison, natives of the Bay State. Her 
father died in that State, June 4, t86o, and her 
mother is still living, a resident of this county. In 
(her family were three children, — Cliarles, Lovica A. 
and Luke. The daughter was born in Nortii Lee, 
Berkshire Co., Mass., April 24, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dean have three children, as follows: Blanche C, 
born April 13, 1873; Mabel A., born April 26, 1875 ; 
and Robert B., Oct. 2, 1877. 



?N 






j Y\\ lt)ei't Higgins, farmer, section 36, Midland 
[^~t':X^ Township, is a son of Harvey and Laura 
^I^S* (Whitman) Higgins, who were natives of Con- 
i]aX necticut. (See sketch of Wm. Higgins.) Al- 
1 bert was born in New York Oct. 8, 1834, and 
at 18 years of age started out in life for himself 
For nearly si.x years he worked out by the month on 
a farm. In the fall of 1S58 he came to Midland 
County and purchased 80 acres of land in Midland 
Township, on section 26, which he afterward disposed 
of He now owns 40 acres on section 36, where he 
resides and has about 25 acres finely improved. 

Mr. Higgins was married in this county Aug. 28, 
1862, to Anna, daughter of William and Nancy 
(Taylor) Fair, who were natives of Ireland. Mrs. H. 
was born in Canada West, March 15, 1842. Their 
family record comprises the following children: 
William A., Rose J. (deceased), Florence M., 
George A., Arthur A. and Robert J. (deceased). 

Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Wesleyan 
Methodist Church, and in political matters he is 
counted a Rei)ublican. 



\ ' r Y' enry Rockwell, farmer, section 23, Homer 
^-.jft^^tii Township, was born July 7, 1845, in Craw- 
s' ford Co., Pa. His parents, Darius and Eunice 
(Herrick) Rockwell, were natives respectively 
of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. They re- 
side in Crawford Co., Pa., the father being 67 
years of age and the mother 64 years old. Of five 




sons and five daughters born to them, four sons and 
two daughters are living. 

Mr. Rockwell is the eldest son and fourth child of 
his parents. He spent the first 20 years of his life 
working on the farm of his father, and was married 
Oct. 31, 1864, in the county where he was born; to 
Lydia Fuller. She was born July 28, 1845, '■'' 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of James 
and Lydia (Garrett) Fuller, both natives of New 
York. They died in Crawford Co., Pa. The family 
circle of Mr. Rockwell includes eight children, born 
as follows: Seymour E., Oct. 18, 1866; William H., 
Sept. 17, 1868; Ernest E., May 2, 1872; Cora B., 
Aug. 20, 1875; James D., Nov. 27, 1878; Orpha L., 
Feb. 5, 1880; Sarah R, March 21, 1882; George E., 
Oct. 19, 1883. 

Soon after marriage, Mr. Rockwell went to Fayette 
Co., 111., and engaged one year in farming. They 
then came to Midland, purchased 40 acres of land 
in Homer Township, on which they resided two 
years. At the end of that time they returned to 
Pennsylvania, where they passed five years in the oil 
regions. Mr. Rockwell purchased 90 acres of land 
in Crawford County, where he engaged in farming 
until December, 1882, when he sold out and returned 
to Midland Co., Mich., and bought 103 acres of land 
on the same section on which he had formerly rented. 
It was under partial improvements, and he has added 
materially to its value and improved his farm build- 
ings. He is one of the best farmers in Midland 
County and is highly esteemed and respected for his 
fine traits of character and abilities. He is a Re- 
publican and has held positions of trust in the town- 
ship where he resides. He and wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



Ky>~'l homas Cunningham, carpenter and joiner, 

^It^yi residing at North Bradley, was born March 

xif^^ ^ 14! 1834, in Prince Edwards Co., Ont. He 

^vP^ ^^* ^ ®°'^ '■^^ Robert and Margaret (Tice) 

fc^ Cunningham. The parents both died in Can- 

I ada, the father some 16 and the mother some 

seven or eight years ago. The family of the parents 

comprised ten children, five boys and five girls, and 

Thomas, the subject of this notice, was the third 

from the youngest, or eighth, child. The father was 



X 



c 



i 



iixv^^^§i# 



«g-.sa- 



^^/i^^ 



■^m9M<>^ 






^t#^ 



198 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



;■■) 
' > 



2 



a carpenter and joiner by trade, but spent the greater 
portion of his Hfe farming. 

Thomas hved at home until lie attained to the age 
of manhood. His days, prior to majority, were 
spent mostly on the farm and his labors contributed 
toward the maintenance of the family. He spent a 
portion of his time, under the supervision of his 
father, in learning his trade, and finished the same 
shortly after arriving at man's estate. He followed 
his trade in Canada, jobbing and working by the 
day, for some time. 

In the spring of 1874 he came to Oakland Co., 
this State, and in the fall of that year came to North 
Bradley, this county, where he has since resided, 
with the exception of one year that he lived in Flint, 
Genesee County. 

Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage Jan. 10, 
1856, to Miss Orilla, daughter of Jabez and Mary 
(Haley) Tripp. The father died in Canada and the 
mother is living with her son Charles, in Freeland, 
Saginaw Co , this State. There were eight children 
in hfr father's family, and she was born in May, 
1839, in Percy Township, Northumberland Co., Out. 
She is the mother, to Mr. Cunningham, of seven chi - 
dren, three of whom are deceased. The living are 
Dorinda E., Mary E., Sylvester and Eula; and the 
deceased, Jesse, Jonathan and Emma C. 

Mr Cunningham is independent in politics. He 
has held the office of Justice of the Peace four 
years, Highvvay Commissioner two years and Town- 
ship Treasurer two terms. He and his wife are 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch, 
and are respected and esteemed citizens of their 
township. 



I 



l^iCohn C. Ostrander, farmer on section 27, 
^[1" Midland Township, is a son of Solomon 
&■'' and Ruth (Childs) Ostrander, natives of the 
t^ State of New York; and he was born in Gene- 
IC see County, that State, July 6, 1816. He re- 
ceived the rudiments of an English education, 
and remained at home until 14 years of age. He 
then (1830) Clime to Washtenaw County, this State, 
where he lived three years, and then removed to 
St. Clair, which was his home until the spring of 1861. 
At that date he came to Midland County, and in 







1865 he bought 63 acres, where is his present home, 
40 acres being in a good state of cultivation. 

He was first married in St. Clair, to Miss Annie 
Brat, a native of Canada. She died July 2, 18^6, 
leaving seven children— Edward J. (now deceased), 
Ruth A., Emma J., Ellen A., Alonzo F., Izza M. and 
Sarah A. Sept. 20, r857, at St. Clair, Mr. O. chose 
as the partner of his joys and sorrows Miss Ursula S., 
daugliter of Francis and Polly (Stevens) Green, 
natives of the State of New York. Mrs. O. was 
born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836, and has 
borne to Mr. O. three children — Dora F., John E. 
and Effie E. 

Mr. Ostrander is in political sentiment a Republi- 
can, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist 
Church. 



•'y*JLQaf®^^'-hi 



;_ :•?— ^.^-S/aZTOv 



^^^tr» 



A 



mm 



liJl^aniel O'Donnell, farmer, section 13, In. 

|(^Sg^c. gersoll Township, is a son of John and 

■^W^Mary (McNulty) O'Donnell, natives of County 

A. Mayo, Ireland, who emigrated to Canada in 

i 1831 and passed the remainder of their lives 

there. The father died in December, 1872, and 

mother in May, 1882. 

Their eldest son, the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Ireland, Oct. 15, 1824, and was about seven 
years of age when the family moved to Canada. 
July I, 1855, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of 
Donald and Christina (Forbes) Mcintosh, natives of 
Scotland. Mrs. O'Donnell was born in Port Dover, 
Canada, Oct. 7, 1837. After marriage Mr. O'Don- 
nell was engaged principally in mercantile business 
in Canada, for about eight years, and in 1865 he 
came to Michigan and settled in East Saginaw, 
engaging in different pursuits for about 13 years. In 
August, 1878, he came to Midland County and 
bought 39 acres of land in Ingersoll Township, 
where he has since resided, and now has about 15 
acres cleared. 

Mr. O'Donnell is a strong advocate of the princi- 
ples of the National jxarty and is a zealous anti- 
monopolist. He formerly held a commission as 
Lieutenant in the British army, which office he sold, 
— according to a practice permissible at that time. 



f 
1 

V 



(^ 



c^: 



(■ 



y 



<G) 





'^^m^' 



■;^ crv4^Il D ^ Wh>^ 



I 

t 



) 



^ 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



199 



His father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the British 
army. 

Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell are the parents of 1 1 
children, whose names are John M. (who died when 
eight months old), Mary C, Ignatius D., Margaret 
E., Eugenia A., Francis J., Teresa C, Charles A., 
Anna C, Arthur A. and Grace I. 

Parents are members of the Catholic Church. 



ioung Swanton, farmer, section ii, Eden- 
-iMatt ville Township, was l.iorn Nov. 29, 1S36, in 




Toronto, Can., and is the son of John and 
Elizabeth Ann (Aikens) Swanton. His father 
died in Devon's Creek, ("an., in 1S44. His 
\ mother afterwards married Thomas Gransden, 
and is living in Edenville Township. After the 
death of his father, Mr. Swanton went to live with a 
man named Robert Archibald, but he ran away at 
the end of a year on account of cruel treatment. He 
then fell under the care of a Catholic priest, who had 
charge of him one year, but who did not understand 
the art of managing other men's children, and he 
abandoned the plan at the end of the time named. 
Mr. Swanton tells that one important reason the priest 
dispensed with his presence, was that he kept two 
kegs of wine, for sacrament purposes, in the room 
where Young slept; and the quantity of wine which 
would under ordinary circumstances last ten years, 
disappeared in as many weeks. The result was that 
Young was anxious to whip all the boys in the neigh- 
borhood. Hecontinued to maintain himself until he ar- 
rived at man's estate, and was married April 11, 1859, 
to Lucy J., daughter of Thomas and Ann (Pringle) 
McConnell. She was born June 15, 1841. Of eight 
children born of this union, seven are living. Fol- 
lowing is the record of their births: Etta A. was 
born March 2, i860; Thomas Y., Oct. 23, 1861; 
John S., Dec. 25, 1863; George E., Jan. 6, 1865 
(died July 30, 1866); Lafayette,"-ftdy 7, 1868; Flora 
B., March 14, 1870; Sidney A., April 12, 1874; 
Bertha, Nov. 2, 1876. 

Mr. Swanton came to Midland County in the fall 
of 1864. He spent the winter here, and in the spring 
of 1865 brought hither his family. He purchased 
city lots in Midland, on which he netted $1,000. He 
resided in that place a year, losing $6,000 indirectly 




as the result of Lincoln's assassination, and finally 
purchased 136 acres of land in Jerome Township. 
After a residence there of one summer he exchanged rX^ 
the property for 193 acres of pine land. The farm ^ 
on which he now resides comprised but five acres of >k 
chopped land, and he now has 75 acres improved and 
under tillage and supplied with two good barns. Mr. 
Swanton is a Republican and has served one term as 
Highway Commissioner. He has spent many winter 
seasons of his life in lumbering in his own interests 
and as foreman of the camps of other parties. 

The first wife of Mr. Swanton died Aug. 7, 1880, 
and he was a second time married June i, 188 1, to 
Elizalieth, widow of Alexander Kesler. One child 
was born of her first marriage. The second Mrs. 
Swanton died March 12, 1884. 



3'!'i^|:L".,dwiri P. Powers, hotel-keeper at North 
„;l'\VS'-^i; Bradley, is a son of William Gj and Har- 



0v'sj'^' riet (Elrick) Powers, and was born in 
"aj^ Franklin, Franklin Co, Vt., Jan. 16, 1833. 
The father of Edwin was of Welsh descent 



and was born in Castleton, Rutland Co., Vt., 
and died in Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 
1880. His (Edwin's) mother was born in Milton, 
Chittenden Co., Vt., and is at present living with her 
daughter in Nicholville, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. 
Her father was from Scotland and her mother a 
native of the Green Mountain State. 

Edwin's father followed the vocation of lumber- 
ing all his life. His family consisted of nine chil- 
dren, five boys and four girls, and all lived to attain 
the age of maturity except one. At the present 
writing there are four girls and two boys living. One 
son died prior to attaining his majority, and two died 
while serving their country in the late civil war. 
One of the latter died of a wound received in a bat- 
tle near Fortress Monroe; he received the wound in 
his shoulder, which necessitated the amputation of 
the arm and caused his death after some two weeks 
of pain and suffering. The other son died of typhoid 
fever contracted while in the service. 

Edwin P. made his own way in the world from the 
time he was ten years of age. At that time he went 
to work for a stipulated amount and contributed of 
his earnings a sufficiency to pay his way. He soon 



r—r 



Si/ 

^ 



i 

I 




e5^4is> 



M^ntM^ 





ry 



e 

> 

^ 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-es# 




began working in a saw-n.ill summers, and spent his 
winters lumbering, giving all his wages, except suffi- 
cient to clothe himself, to his parents. He also re- 
quired a fair common-school education in the schools 
of Vermont and New York, and continued working 
as an employe in the saw-mills until 1862. 

The late civil war having broken out, and the sym- 
pathies of Mr. Powers being with the cause of the 
North, he enlisted in Co. G, nth N. Y. Vol. Cav. 
(" Scott's 900"), Aug. II, 1862. The company was 
commanded by Col. James B. Swain. It was 
ordered to Washington, U. C, and on its arrival was 
detailed for provost duty. One company (Co. A) 
was President Lincoln's body guard and were all 
mounted on black horses. Mr. Powers was on pro- 
vost duty in Washington 18 months and was then 
sent to New Orleans to guard plantations and hunt 
guerrillas. The plantations had been forfeited to 
the U. S. Government and rented to Northern men 
for raising cotton, and it was necessary for a time to 
keep a guard to protect their crops and buildings. 
From New Orleans he was sent to Memphis, Tenn., 
and at the latter place received his discharge from 
the service. 

On receiving his discharge Mr. Powers returned to 
St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and again engaged in the 
mill business, which he continued until 1876. Dur- 
ing that year he located a homestead of 160 acres of 
land in Wisconsin, and finally traded his homestead 
for the hotel he is at present conducting in Button- 
ville, or North Bradley. 

Mr. Powers was united in marriage, Jan. 31, 1858, 
at Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., to Miss Sarah 
A. Foote, daughter of Michael and Margaret (Debar) 
Foote. Her father was of French and English de- 
scent, a farmer by occupation and was l)orn in Can- 
ada. His children were 15 in number, i i of wliom 
grew to the age of maturity, and nine of whom are 
now living. He died June 16, 1865. The mother 
is of English descent, and is still living in Canton, 
St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. 

Mrs. Powers was born April 4, 1836, in VVadding- 
ton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. She is the mother, to 
Mr. Powers, of two children, namely : James E., 
born Jan. 29, 1862, in Hopkinton, St. Lawrence Co., 
N. Y., was united in marriage with Miss Altha Don- 
aldson, Nov. I, 1883; and Harriet, born Nov. 3, 
1859, in Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., died Jan. 
6, 1 86 1. 




In national affairs Mr. Powers affiliates with the 
Republican party. Li religion, h'j and wife were 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and still incline to that belief. 



S>^ ' '•' 



v^ 



m 



^ dwin C. 



Berryman, photographer at 
il^iiij Midland, was born June 27, 1859, in 
0v^^'' ° Cayuga Co., N. Y. His parents, William 
and Catherine (Spears) Berryman, removed to 
Leslie, Ligham Co., Mich., in 1862. His father 
is a farmer and both parents now reside in 
Fentonville, Genesee Co., Mich. 

Mr. Berryman spent 17 years in Leslie, engaged 
in securing a fair common-school education and 
passing a short period in clerking. In April, 1879, 
he came to Midland, where he passed three years as 
a salesman in the mercantile establishment of the 
Reardon Bros. In 1882 he became proprietor of a 
photograplier's outfit and traveled some time. In 
October, 1882, he located at Midland, where he is 
engaged in a prosperous business. His artistic work 
includes all varieties of photography, copying, 
enlarging and portrait-painting, crayon, water colors, 
etc. He owns his residence, place of business, a 
village lot and 40 acres of land in Homer Town- 
ship. 

He was married in Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., 
Sept. 21, 1 88 1, to Miss Delia Glympse. She is a 
native of Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich. Mr. Berry- 
man is a member of the Knights of Maccabees. 



— ^--Kef^f^J.).. 



'^££^P 




9 

i 






|^,r. Andrew J. Bowman, resident at Eden- 
ville, was born July 11, 1836, in Herkimer 
'=" Co., N. Y. His parents, William and Polly 
(Chaffee) Bowman, were born respectively in 
^j Vermont and New York. They are both de- 
ceased and their remains are buried in the 
cemetery at St. Clair. 

Dr. Bowman was reared to the age of 16 years on 
his father's farm. He then took the making of his 
fortunes into his own hands and went to Lakeport on 
Lake Huron to learn the trade of builder. After two 
years he returned to St. Clair County, where he 
tarried but a short time. He went to Detroit, where 



(^ 






^ 



<^II!I 



:^nti;^A^ 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



4?^^ 



(h 






V 



he began the study of medicine with Dr. Stockwell, 
and afterwards continued his course of reading with 
Dr. Cornell, of Ionia. He attended two terms of 
lectures at Ann Arbor, and has been in active prac- 
tice about 1 6 years. Dr. Bowman is a Republican 
in political sentiment. He owns a fine place, witli a 
new house and barn. 

He was married Aug. 15, 1883, to Mizeth, daugh- 
ter of Edwin and Rhoda (Ellis) Eraser. Her par- 
ents are natives of Canada and are respectively of 
Scotch and English descent. Tliey live in Hope 
Township, Midland County, where they have resided 
about 12 years. Five years previous to that they re- 
sided in Lincoln Township. Mrs. Bowman was born 
April 6, 1864, in Strathroy, Can. 



^*H^Sifc 



% 



harles B. Peer, farmer, section 31, Mid- 
pi?asS land Township, is a son of Abraham and 
^ Polly (Ballard) Peer, who were natives of the 



V 



State of New York. He was born in Genesee 
I County, that State, Feb. 11, 183 1, and wlien 
14 years old he came to Wayne Co., Mich., where he 
remained eight years; he then resided in Parke Co., 
Ind., until 1S70, when he came to Midland County 
and purchased 5 2 acres of land, where he has since 
resided, and now has 35 acres under cultivation. 
He had charge of the County House in 1879 and 
1883. Mr. P. is a member of the Masonic friternity, 
and in politics is a Democrat. 

He was married in Indiana, Aug. 8, 1859, to Miss 
Lucy Fossett, daughter of Jockway Fosset. She 
was born in the Empire State, June 3. 1836. Mr. 
and Mrs. Peer are the parents of one child, Frank- 
lin, who died when about 18 months old. They 
adopted Otis J. Davis when he was 15 months old, 
and gave him their own name of Peer. 



'-aS(= 



^lo^lisha S. Day, f;irmer, sections i and 2, 
Edenville Township, was born Oct. i, 
1842, at Lyndon Center, Cattaraugus Co., 
N. Y., and is the son of Thomas and Dorothy 
(Smart) Day. His parents are natives of Eng- 
land and became residents of America previous 
to their marriage. They now reside at Lyndon Center. 





Mr. Day was under the guidance of his father ^ 



until he was 21 years of age. He remained at his 
work on his father's farm about six weeks after reach- 
ing the period of his legal freedom, and received 31 
dollars, with which he set out in the world. His first 
employ was in cutting cord-wood, at two shillings and 
si.x pence a cord, and he boarded himself He next 
engaged as a farm assistant and worked by the 
month some time, after which he operated in buying 
and selling stock in his own interest. The field of 
his operations was chiefly Canada, whence he shipped 
his purchases to the State of New York. He con- 
tinued this business several months, after which he 
returned home and worked a year on his father's 
farm. In 1866 he came to Romeo, Macomb Co., 
Mich., and went to work by tlie month. In the 
spring of 1867 he rented a farm for a year. 

He was married April 2, 1867, to Justina C, 
daughter of Snover F. and Eliza (Smith) Chrisman. 
The parents are both living, near Romeo. She was 
born March 5, 1844, and died Aug. 15, 1877, of ^ 
consumption. She and a child were buried in one 
coffin in the cemetery at Romeo. Three children 
survive, born as follows: Brice, Oct. 24, 1868; 
Florence E., March 6, 1872; Clyde Evart, March 
29, 1874. Mr. Day was a second time married, 
April 2, 1878, to Arilla, daugliter of John W. and 
Ellen (Robbins) Grover. She was born April 10, 
1840, in Windham, Norfolk Co., Can. Her parents 
both died in Edenville, Mich. Mrs. Day was the 
widow of C. J. Axford. The family of Mr. Day in- 
cludes an adopted son — Freddie Strong — born May 
13, 1876, in Massachusetts. 

On the expiration of his lease of the first farm, 
Mr. Day rented one situated two miles distant, on 
which he operated two years, when he again rented 
anotjier farm and continued its management five 
years. In 1875 he purchased 320 acres of land in 
Macomb County, and two years later made an addi- 
tional purchase of 54 acres. He remained resident 
on the place six years. In 1878 he bought 166 acres 
of land on sections i and 2, Edenville, where he 
now resides. He has also kept a hotel for two years 
at Edenville, but has leased it for five years to L. G. 
Porter. 

The farm was under partial improvements and has 
increased greatly in value since it has been under 
his management. He has erected one of the finest 



9 

■^ 
£ 

S 



^ 



( 



ii-v®^^^# 



.j^^^jL 



mmm>^ — ^=«^ 



f^M: 




^7<>IlIl§IIIlf>T^ 
MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-f^^^C(®vSP 










houses and most valuable barns in the township. 
He made a later purchase of 200 acres, which he 
improved to some extent, and sold in 1SS3. He 
now owns 540 acres of land, besides the hotel in 
the village of Edenville. Among other acts of well- 
considered and well-directed benevolence which Mr. 
Day has performed, has been the contribution of 
$600 to the erection of a church at Romeo, and 
$200 toward the construction of a church edifice at 
Edenville. 

Mrs. Day is one of the earliest settlers in Midland 
County. She came to Edenville in the fall of 1866, 
with her father, mother and husband, making the 
route from Saginaw to Midland on the " Belle Sey- 
mour," a steam tug, and thence to Edenville on a 
scow, which conveyed the family and their effects. 
The place then contained a hotel, in which the only 
store in the vicinity was conducted. They bought ten 
acres of land and the farm on which the family now 
reside, moved into a shanty and set up hotel-keep- 
ing therein, until they were enabled to build a suit- 
able structure for that purpose. After doing so they 
continued its management 1 1 years, and then sold 
it. The principal business of Northern Michigan at 
the time of their arrival was lumbering, and the 
hotel was chiefly patronized by the men engaged in 
the woods. At the dates of opening and closing the 
lumber season, the resources of the hotel were taxed 
to the uttermost, as all supplies were transported 
thither by canoes or scows from Saginaw, there being 
no roads of any use, and sometimes hundreds of 
men were entertained in a day. The experiences of 
Mrs. Day were unusually trying. 

1 mos Turney, carpenter and builder, resi- 
dent on section 16, Homer Township, was 
born June 26, 1837, in Northumberland Co., 
Ontario. At the age of 11 years, he was 
bound out to Levi Walker, in the State of New 
York, with whom he resided one year. He returned 
to his native province and passed his time in various 
occupations until he was 16 years old, when he placed 
himself under indentures with David Turney, his 
cousin, to learn the trade which has since been his 
vocation. At the age of 18 years he came to 
St. Clair Co , Mich., where he was engaged chiefly in 




A^^[]!i^i]t];i> 



the pursuit of his trade three years, when he came 
to Midland County. Two years later he returned to 
Ontario, and spent a year in the en.ployment of the 
cousin of whom he learned his trade. At the end 
of that time they formed a partnership and trans- 
ferred their interests to St. Clair, Mich., where they 
engaged in an extensive business. Mr. Turney had 
the core of his father in Ontario, and passed his 
time alternately in Michigan and in the Dominion 
until he was married. That event occurred Aug. 22, 
1867, when Sarah M. Windover became his wife. (See 
sketch of John Windover.) She was born June 26, 
1849, in Ontario. Five sons constitute the issue of 
this marriage. They are William H., George, Amos, 
Reynold and John W. Mr. Turney is a zealous 
Republican, and has served as Highway Commis- 
sioner. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



it ames B. Burtless, farmer, section 24, Mid- 
land Township, is a son of William and 
Mary (Petty) Burtless, natives of New 
Jersey. His father came from that State to 
Central New York when a boy, and drove a 
cow the entire distance. Both his parents re- 
sided in New York State until their death. They had 
eiglit sons and one daughter. 

Jymes B., the eldest of the children, was born in 
Seneca Co., N. Y., April 8, 1822. At the age of 21 
he came to Jackson Co., Mich., and purchased a 
tract of 103 acres. After improving about 18 acres 
he sold the place, and a year afterward returned to 
New York Stale and worked a farm on shares for 
four years, when he came again to Michigan and 
lived one year in Lenawee County. During this 
time he bought a farm in Branch Co., Mich., and 
lived upon it almost ten years, when he again sold 
out, and in February, 1864, enlisted for the Union in 
the First Michigan Light Artillery, serving till the 
close of the war. He then bought a farm in Bay Co., 
Mich., and occupied it till January, 1881, when he 
sold and came to Midland City, lived with his son, 
Dr. Burtless, two years, and a few months later he 
bought 40 acres of land in Midland Township, on 
which he built a residence and where he still lives. 
He was first married in Lenawee Co., Mich , 
Feb. 25, 1846,10 Susanna Cairnes, a native of New 




A 






\ 



^ 



€? 





ill 



t 




i 







■^^v 



<^l]tlsllllf^' 






-:2#^^^ 



.d^ 









\> 



) 



^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



York State. Their children were William E., Hattie 
and Charlie. Mrs. B. died Dec. 30, 1859, and Mr. 
B. married Jeannette Cameron Fray, in Sanilac 
County, Aug. 19, 1874. Latona A. and Erie were 
the children by this marriage. The latter died when 
nearly three years old, and the mother in November, 
1879. Sept. 19, 1SS2, Mr. B. married, for his present 
wife, Mrs. Sarah A., daughter of John and Wilhel- 
mina Fleming and widow of David Stephens, who 
died Feb. 19, 1879. 

Mr. Burtless, a Republican, has been Highway 
Commissioner in Bay County, and both himself and 
wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

. — ^~;-4 — o<s«ilB)>-^^c — g>-H- — 

ohn Haywood, farmer on section 13, 
Homer Township, was born in St. John's, 
■>"*^' Can., Oct. 22, 1843, and lived with his 
parents until 16 years old. During this time 
they removed to Prince Edwards Island ; and 
later they went to the State of Maine, where 
both parents died, the father in i860 and the mother 
in 1868. 

Commencing as a common laborer at tlie age men- 
tioned, he found employment at ti.nes in the lumber 
woods and on the river, and at other times worked at 
farming. He was thus engaged, in the State of 
Maine, until the spring of 1865, when he came to 
Michigan. Here he worked in the woods and on the 
river until 1877, when he settled on 40 acres in 
Homer Township which he had purchased in 1869. 
He has since devoted his time mostly to farming, 
and has now 25 acres improved, a fair residence and 
-a good stock and grain barn. 

June 29, 1874, at Midland, he was joined in wed- 
lock with Miss Nettie Fisk, daughter of Mark H. 
and Mary (Cronnnett) Fisk, natives of Maine, and 
of Welsh and English descent, respectively. Mrs. 
Fisk now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Haywood. 
She is a lineal descendant of Oliver Cromwell, some 
one of her ancestors having changed the name to 
Crommett. Mr. Fisk died in the Pine Tree State 
June 18, 1858. Mrs. Haywood was born May 14, 
1854, in Levant, Penobscot Co., Me.. Losing her 
father wlien four years old, she was under her 
mother's care until 20 years old. At that age she 
came to this State and county, where she was shortly 
after married. 





The family includes two children — Ernest G., 
born Feb. 5, 1874, and Herbert A., Feb. 11, 1882. 
Mr. H. has held the offices of Drain Commissioner 
and Constable, and is in political opinion a Repub- 
lican. 

-vSs- — 

illiam O- Burtless, M. D., medical prac- 
titioner at Midland, was born near the 
»<^''(~s city of Jackson, Mich. His parents, 
'Ire*^ James B. and Susan (Carnes) Burtless, set- 
tled soon after their marriage in Seneca 
County, N. Y., where they were members of the 
agricultural class of society. They came to Michi- 
gan about the year 1845, and in 1847 returned to 
Seneca County, where they resided three years, re- 
turning at the end of that time to Michigan. They 
settled near Coldwater and maintained their resi- 
dence there a number of years. The mother died 
about the year 1856. The father is still living, and 
resides in Midland Township, this county. 

Dr. Burtless attained to man's estate in Branch 
County, and passed the years of his early youth ob- 
taining his elementary education and alternately as- 
sisting on the farm of his father. He became inter- 
ested in the progress and issues of the Civil War, 
and at last decided in risking the fate of the soldier. 
He enlisted Jan. 10, 1864, in Co. M, nth Mich. 
Cav., under Capt. Frisby. The regiment was as- 
signed to the Western Army, and was in active ser- 
vice, chiefly among the guerrillas of North and South 
Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vir- 
ginia. Dr. Burtless was wounded in a skirmish in 
Kentucky, April 12, 1864, and during the attack on 
Saltville, W. Va., he received a minie-ball wound 
in his left foot, and soon afterward the leg was shat- 
tered by a bursting shell. He was taken prisoner 
and placed in a rebel hospital, located opposite the 
notorious Libby Prison at Richmond. He was in 
vigorous health at the time and weighed 168 pounds. 
After being wounded he lay three days on the field, 
without food or drink, and suffered the loss of a large 
amount of blood. His privations after he was cap- 
tured were after the pattern that have stamped the 
Southern character of that period with an ineffaceable 
stigma, and which he was only enabled to withstand 
Ijy his splendid powers of physical endurance. He 



K^ 



s 



9 



V/ 



0) 




^^^fL p^^;!] j]^ ntji^-a^. 



-^4^^j(@y^i 





■:^^^ K C^v <^Mm]\^> 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




I 



(b 



(0 



(c^ 



was paroled at the end of three weeks and weighed 
93 pounds. Three months before his discharge from 
the service of the United Stales, he rejoined his regi- 
ment and served during the remainder of his period 
of enHstnient in the capacity of Corporal. 

On being mustered out, he came to Tecumseh, 
Lenawee Co., Mich., and became a stiident in the 
union school at that place. He completed a course 
of study, a''ter which he passed a year in the Baptist 
College at Kalamazoo. In the fall of 187 i, he ma- 
triculated in the Literary Department of the Uni- 
versity of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He withdrew 
from the University at the end of his Sophomore 
year, in the spring of 1873. Soon after, he embarked 
in a mercantile enterprise at Auburn, Bay County, 
a;ssociated with L-a Swart. The relation terminated 
at the end of two years. While attending school at 
Tecumseh, he gave some attention to the study of 
medicine, and in the fall of 1876 he entered the 
Medical Department of the University, where he was 
graduated in the spring of 1878, in medicine and 
surgery. In July of the same year, he initiated his 
practice at Midland, where he has since continued its 
prosecution and leads his profession. His business 
in the department of surgery is especially extensive, 
and includes a wide-spread territory. He belongs to 
the State Medical Society, also the American Medi- 
cal Association. 

Dr. Burtless owns a fine residence and grounds in 
Midland, several building lots variously situated in 
the village, and 155 acres of farming land adjoining 
the corporation. He holds a third interest in 2,000 
acres of timber lands in Larkin Township, and has 
the same claim in 130 acres of land located adjoin- 
ing his farm, before named. He is also a member 
of the Star Flouring Company at Midland. 

Dr. Burtless was married in 1874, at Tecumseh, 
Mich., to Sarah, daughter of Dr. J. S. and Sarah 
Hainilton. She died in Jajiuary, 1875, leaving a 
son — Earl — who died when 1 1 months old. Dr. 
Burtless was a second time married, June 22, 1877, 
to Emma C. Blodget, daughter of Charles S. and 
Laura P. Blodget. The only child of this marriage 
• — Hattie — died at the age of 1 1 months. 

Charles S. Blodget was born in Vermont, Jan. 3, 
18 1 8, and was the son of ("harles and Content 
(Waite) Blodget. A few years after his birth his 
parents removed to Brownhelm, Lorain Co., Ohio, 




where they passed their remaining years. In 1864 
they celebrated their golden wedding. The father 
died at the age of 93 years. The mother died in 
1877, at 90 years of age. 

Mr. Blodget received a careful elementary educa- 
tion at the district schools and afterward at Oberlin, 
Ohio. He was married in 7840, to Laura P. Graves, 
a lady of rare personal and mental traits. Slie was 
born July 31, 1824, in Camden, Ohio. The husband 
was employed in the lake service during a few sea- 
sons, where he bought a saw-mill and farm at Brown- 
helm. The mill was burned and replaced by another, 
which was also burned, and the proprietor in 1852 
sold his agricultural interests and removed to Mich- 
igan, settling in Midland Township on a tract of un- 
improved land, where he once more began his con- 
test with the world. He entered vigorously into the 
work of wresting success through persistent effort 
from the wilderness of woods, and he prosecuted the 
business of lumbering in connection with that of agri- 
culture. He was a man of earnest Christian char- 
acter, and exerted his influence as such in every 
possible avenue. 

The population of Midland Township was chiefly 
composed of unlettered people, whom circumstances 
compelled to exert every faculty to the acquisition of 
a livelihood, and to whom the Sabbath brought only 
respite from arduous toil and was spent in such re- 
creation as the place afforded, consisting mainly of 
hunting and fishing. Through the eftbrts of Mr. 
Blodget, ably seconded by his wife and the few Chris- 
tian people in the vicinity, a Sunday-school was in- 
stituted and the services of a minister secured. His 
house was the center of hospitable entertainment and 
the headquarters of chance travelers, clergymen and 
Indian missionaries. He was keenly alive to the 
portentous issues of the times in which he lived. 

Patriotic and loyal, as he was, to the dignity and 
claims of the standard of the United States, the in- 
solent attack upon the Federal authority at Fort 
Sumter aroused in him all the indignation of one 
whose dearest and best is ruthlessly assaulted, and 
he was deterred from joining the defenders of the 
Union only by the feeble health of his wife. But, as 
events progressed and the reverses of 1862 involved 
the hopes of the North in seeming ruin, he responded 
to the appeals of the Executive for aid and succor in 
the most trying hour of the nation's peril. He be- 



1 



( 



N 






^@tf5®- 



J^ 



A<:^il a .^ IIti;>^^ — ^^^^^ 



^51 




ip 



4-IIDSPIl-$V 



rrr 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-«^ 



207 



T 



4 



e 

^ 

^ 






came a soldier Oct. 17, 1862, enlisting in Co. H, 
27th Mich. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Bingham. He 
went to the field as a Sergeant and was in active ser- 
vice nearly two years. In March, 1864, he was 
seized with camp diarrhea, resulting from the fatigue 
and exposure of a forced march of several days' con- 
tinuance. He was placed in an ambulance prepara- 
tory to removal to the hospital at Knoxville, Tenn., 
becoming unconscious during the transfer. He re- 
mained insensible and died a few hours later. His 
demise occurred March 12, 1864. 

His widow was left with seven young children, 
all daughters except the youngest. She was in frail 
health, but rallied to the double responsibilities 
thrown upon her by the death of her husband. She 
devoted herself to the education and rearing of her 
children, assuming control of the property and so 
managing her resources as to secure the object of her 
efforts. She died March 8, 1873, of consumption 
from which she suffered three years. She was warmly 
regarded beyond the limits of her own family, having 
proved invaluable among the friends and neighbors 
of her sphere, who found in her a sympathetic friend 
and assistant in tlie emergencies of life. 

The portrait of Dr. Burtless appears on another 
page. It is presented with peculiar satisfaction, as 
that of an able practitioner, a conscientious man, and 
one who is ever sensible of the claims of his genera- 
tion. 



(^ 




lanson Marey, farmer, section 35, Inger- 

aj^'aTX-^ soil Township, is a son of Stephen and 

'5^1^ Achsy (Howe) Marcy, natives of Vermont, and 

jk^ was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 16, 1807. 

'j Coming to this State, he first lived several 

years in Lapeer County, and in March, 1856, he 

came to Midland County and purchased 80 acres of 

section 25, Ingersoll Township, where he settled and 

lived till the fall of i8S3,when he sold this farm and 

bought a house and small tract of land on section 

35, his present residence. 

He was first married in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., to 
Mary Bowen, a native of New York, and they had 
six children, viz.: Almira, Charles F., Harriet H., 
William H., Martha A. and Susan D. Almira and 
Martha are deceased, and their mother died Ti"ie 21, 




1S5T. Mr. M. was again married Sept. 2, 1853, in 
Oakland Co., Mich., to Mary A., daughter of William 
and Phebe (Herrimon) Upton, natives of the State 
of New York, and of the eight children by this mar- 
riage four survive, viz.: Achsy O., Polly R., Seth N. 
and Orrin J. The deceased were Phebe, Tillie A., 
Lydia J. and Ira E. 

Mr. and Mrs. Marcy belong to the Wesleyan 
Methodist Church. In regard to national ejuestions 
Mr. M. votes with the Republican party. 




j::^ 



M^m 



[Ivin Marsh, farmer, section i, Edenville 
C Township, was born Oct. 13, 1823, in Mc- 
Lean village, Tompkins Co., N. Y., and is 
V?jlja^ the son of Joseph and Mary (Bailey) Marsh, 
'1^ both of whom were natives of Vermont. The 
; mother was of genuine Yankee extraction, and 
is deceased. The father was born Dec. 29, 1795, 
and died at the home of his son Aug. 22, 1865. 

Mr. Marsh was the third son of four children born 
to his parents, and when he was seven years old, ac- 
companied them in their removal to Allegany Co., 
N. Y. The township was named New Hudson and 
the immediate vicinity was known as the Marsh set- 
tlement. He was reared to the profession of a farmer 
and remained on his father's farm until he attained 
his majority. In company with his father and two 
brothers, he owned an equal share in 200 acres of 
land and a saw-mill, and in 1S53 he came to Mich- 
igan to prospect for a location. He returned and 
sold his claim, and in October, 1854, settled in Sagi- 
naw County. He understood the trade of a builder, 
and he was occupied in the pursuit of that business 
several years. In 1857 he removed to Saginaw City 
and two years later, in the fall of 1859, he settled in 
Midland County. Motile residing at Saginaw he 
bought 160 acres of land in Hope Township, which 
he exchanged for the farm on which he is at present 
established, which includes 160 acres. It comprised 
30 acres of cleared land, and was supplied with a 
log house and a log barn. He now owns 120 acres 
of his original purchase, having sold 40 acres. Eighty 
acres ot the homestead are under creditable and 
valuable improvements. Mr. Marsh is a Republican 
in political faith, and has been Supervisor of his 
township two terms. Mr. Marsh built, in the autumn 



gllll<>V=* 



^5 





rrv4i(lD^:iiIlri>v-e ■:^&^ 

MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^. 



^SjS5 



i® 



^m^ 



<) 



<^ 



of 1855, the first frame structure, at Midland City, 
for John Larkin. He is quite a successful Nimrod, 
having killed up to date 142 bears, 200 wolves, and 
from 1,200 to 1,500 deer. For some years he made 
quite a handsome income by working at his trade in 
the summers, and trapping in the woods winters. 

He was married at Rushford, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1846, 
to Laura Ann Holmes, who was born March 17, 
1826, in Onondaga Co., N. Y. Her father, Jeremiah 
Holmes, was born July 7, 1800, in Herkimer Co., N. 
Y., and died Oct. 19, i85S. He was of English 
origin. The mother, Laura (Smith) Holmes, is a 
native of Massachusetts, of English descent, and is 
living with William Magee. Emily Adelaide, the 
eldest of two children of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, was 
born in New Hudson, Allegany Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 
1847, and became the wife of Gilbert B. Goff, of 
Edenville Township, April 10, 1866. John Owen 
Marsh was born July 10, 1853, in New Hudson. Mr. 
and Mrs. Marsh are members of the Church of 
Seventh-Day Adventists. 




I illiam A. Greenleaf, farmer, section 33, 
Midland Township, is a son of Thomas 
and Mary (Young) Greenleaf, natives of 
Maine. He was born in Mercer, that State, 
^ June 9, 1835, attended school until iS years 
of age, and then learned the trade of carriage- 
making. He then worked at his trade five years in 
South Carolina. Returning to his native State, he en- 
listed, April 18, i86i,in the Sixth Maine Volunteers, 
and served until the close of the war. During the 
first three years of his service he was in 23 general 
engagements. 

After the war he returned to Maine, and two 
months afterward he came to Michigan. The first 
winter he worked in the woods, and in May, 1866, 
he came to Midland City, where he was employed 
two summers in carpentry, but continued in the lum- 
(9^ ber woods during the intervening winters. About 
186S he purchased 80 acres of land where he now 
resides; but from 1870 to r88i he lived in Midland 
^ City, continuing at carpentry and lumbering, accord- 
^ ing to the season, as above mentioned. He now has 
(^ 25 acres under cultivation. 
^ Mr. G. was married in Oakland Co., Mich., in 



September, 1866, to Mrs. Julia, daughter of Lambson 
and Roxy Livermore and widow of Amos Witter, 
who died in the army. She had by her first marriage 
one child, Alice by name, and by her present mar- 
riage one child, Ro.xy M., born Aug. 21, 1868. 

In general politics, Mr. Greenleaf votes with the 
Republicans. 



i 



0S«5«;«t#«"»-lf^ 




illiam McKay, farmer, section 32, Mid- 
land Township, is a son of James and 
J^^f^O Jessie (Mcllrath) McKay, natives of Scot- 
4?^ land, who. shortly after their marriage, emi- 
|Y grated to New York city. Here, Mr. James 

-> McKay engaged in mercantile pursuits for a 
while, then in Paris, Ont., for three years ; then sold 
out and established himself in agricultural pursuits 
for five years ; next he exchanged his property for a 
distillery, which he ran for ten years, and finally pur- 
chased the farm where he now resides. His wife 
died in 1853. They were the parents of seven chil- 
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the 
second. 

The latter was born on "Scotia's Isle," Feb. 15, 
1840, and was therefore but an infant when his par- 
ents emigrated with him to this country. When r6 
years of age he started out in the world for himself, 
in the pursuit of agriculture. In September, 1859, 
he returned to Scotland and remained until May, 
1861. He received his education mostly in the 
common schools of Ontario, and he also attended 
the academy at Dumfries, Scotland, near the home 
of the poet Burns. He returned to Canada in 186 r, 
and for two years was engaged in the live-stock 
business. He had previously purchased a farm in 
Norfolk Co., Ont., on which he settled at this time, 
and remained there till he came to Midland County, 
in June, 1865. On his arrival here he purchased 40 
acres of unimproved land, to which he has since 
added ten acres, and he now has the entire place 
under fine cultivation. 

Mr. McKay was married in Midland City, May 
25, 1867, to Julia, daughter of Joseph and Abigail 
(Taylor) Smith, who were natives of New York. She 
also was born in that State, in Onondaga County, 
Oct. 5, 1839. James D., born May 25, 1871, is the 
only child born to Mr. and Mrs. McKay. 



V&^ 






V 





®>)^T#* 



rzi^P^sr — ^=r7^':UU^PU>-:>v 






) 



:-§ 



^ 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



The subject of this biographical sketch has held 
the offices of Higliway Commissioner, Justice of the 
Peace and School Director, in his political sentiments 
is a National, and, with his wife, is in sympathy with 
the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church. 



cries Kelly, farmer, section 26, Homer 

Township, was born in this township 

'^ Oct. 24, i860, and is the son of William 

'^^^ and Elizabeth (Barton) Kelly. His parents 

are residents of the village of Midland. 

The leading event of the life of Mr. Kelly 
thus fa.r was his marriage to Mary McDermott. 
She was born in Homer Township, March 12, 1865, 
and is the daughter of Clement and Ellen (O'Con- 
nell) McDermott. Her parents were natives of New 
York, of Irish descent. Laroy is the only child yet 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. They reside on the 
family homestead, and Mr. Kelly owns 80 acres on 
section 30, of this township, 30 acres of which are 
under the plow. 




•'x*£ai2»©iC-^— l§|^^^&^^i- 



•^^^msrm^ 



ri^CS:^ 




illiam Simmons, farmer, section 28, Mid- 
land Township, is a son of Nicholas and 
„ Sabine Simmons, who were natives of 
'' Germany and emigrants to America in the 
summer of 1847, settling in St. Clair Co.^ 
Mich. Mother died in Port Huron. 
. William was born in Germany, Aug. lo, 1839, and 
was eight years old when he came with his parents 
to this countr)' ; attended school two years in his 
native land, and several terms in Midland. At the 
age of 13 he left home, and three months afterward 
was apprenticed for three years to learn the black- 
smith's trade, which he followed until rS6i, when he 
enlisted in the Fifth Mich. Cav. and served three 
years. He was the first to enlist from Midland 
Township. At the battle of Gettysburg he was 
taken prisoner and conveyed to Belle Island ; four 
months afterward he was paroled. Excepting his 
time in the army he has resided in this county since 
1858. 

In i860 he bought 38 acres of land in Midland 




Township, to which he has since added 80 acres, 
and he has almost 70 acres under cultivation. 

Mr. Simmons was married in Midland City, May 
r, 1865, to Phebe E., daughter of Jeremiah and 
Laura E. (Smith) Holmes, and widow of M. E. 
Goodrich, who died Dec. 20, i860. Mrs. S. was 
born in Allegany Co., N. Y., July 11, 1840. By her 
first marriage there was one child, which died in in- 
fancy. By her second there have been three chil- 
dren, viz : Avis V., William R. and Ernest H. — the 
last of whom died when eight years old. 

Mr. S. has been Township Treasurer one year. 
Highway Commissioner three years (re-elected in 
18S4), and has held the various school offices. In 
political matters he votes with the Republican party. 
Mrs. Simmons is a Seventh-Day Adventist. 



* R'C"J;-.',avid Berthune, farmer, section n, Geneva 
C^\{[}/rf'' . . . ^ 

': "iP..^J'- Township, was born in the Province of 

Quebec, Can., May g, 1847. He is a son 
of Louis and Shia (Be Dor) Berthune. His 
father was a native of Canada, of French 
'S descent, and was born in 1815. He owned 

a small farm (33 acres) in the Dominion, and fol- 
lowed farming and buying and selling stock for a 
livelihood, and died in September, 1857. The mother 
of David was a native of Canada, of English and 
French descent, born in 1826 and died in the Do- 
minion in January, 1876. 

David left home when 12 years of age and worked 
in the lumber woods winters, and on the rivers sum- 
mers, running logs, until 187 I. In the summer of 
that year he came to Saginaw, this State. He 
engaged as employe to a Mr. Peter McCarthy, and 
worked in the woods in that gentleman's interest 
until he came to this county. 

June 23, 18S0, he purchased his present farm on 
section 9, Geneva Township, and moved on it in 
March, 1882. 

March 12, 1873, Mr. Berthune was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Salina, daughter of Louis and Mercy 
(Brandow) Bresan. Her mother died in the summer 
of 1 88 1, in Mecosta County, this State, and her 
father still resides in that county. -She was born 
Jan. 6, 1850, and departed this life Feb. 11, 1858, 
leaving to the care of her husband two children. 



r 




? 



.1 



)^€- 



%®- 



-©TK^iingntif^^^^ — ^«^ 



-est 



^^^^ 





!2?Ti,J?^C" 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






I 
t 



\ 










/ 



t 






namely. Louis Edward, bom Feb. 15, 1874; and 
Mercy, born Feb. i, 1S7S, died April 6, 1S7S. One 
child preceded the mother to the better land, namely, 
Sophia, bom Jan. 8, 1S76, and died Oct. 13. TS77. 

March 26, 1SS2, he was again married, to Miss 
Jennie M., daughter of Hiram and Maria Bartlett. 
Her father was a native of Maine, of English 
descent, followed the occupation of lumberman, was 
bora March 16, 1829, and died March 6, 1S82. Her 
mother is of English and Irish descent, and is living 
with her son in Buttonville. Mrs. Berthune was 
born Aug 28, i860. She is the mother to Mr. B. of 
one child, David Edwin, bom June 2, 18S3. 

Politically, Mr. Berthune is a believer in the doc- 
trines of the Republican party. He is a quiet, un- 
ostentatious farmer and a respected and esteemed 
citizen of his township. 




i eter Skym, farmer, section 2,2,, Homer 
: Township, was born June 27, 1836, in 
Albany, N. V. His parents, John and 
S"^ Susan (Thoroughgood) Skym, were natives of 
' |!^ London, Eng., and of mixed Welsh and Eng- 
lish extraction. The father was employed as an as- 
sistant in a silk factor)- in London, and emigrated to 
America some years ago. He settled with his 
family in r84o in Ashtabula O)., Ohio, where he fol- 
lowed farming until his death, which occurred 
Jan. 4, 187S. The mother died Nov. 3, 1S74, in the 
same countj\ 

Mr. Skym was a small child when his parents 
settled in Ohio, and he remained under the direction 
of his father until he was 22 years old, when he 
engaged as a farm assistant in the ^-icinity where he 
had grown to manhood. He was married Feb. 23, 
1S65, to Celia Miller. She was bom in Ashtabula 
Co., Ohio. Oct. 30, 1S39, and is the daughter of Jus- 
tus and Laura (Holbrooks) Miller. Her parents were 
bora in Ohio, and her father died there about the 
year 1S70. Her mother is yet living in the Buckeye 
State, and is aged 78 years. Frank E., Stella E., 
Clinton J. and Arthur are the names of the children 
bom to Mr. and Mrs. Skym. The latter is deceased. 
After their mani.ige they remained in Ashtabula 
Count)' until the fall of 1879 and were engaged in 
farming. In the year named they removed to the 



count)- and township in which they ha%-e since re- 
sided. Mr Skym bought 80 acres in a wholly un- 
improved condition, which he has cleared and greatly 
increased in value. He is a Republican in his politi- 
cal views. 



X^ 

■- - -- - « 

1 



%^%j^^^^^t^«-ii-i- 



•ajnthony Dagle, farmer, section 10, Midland 

J^S^^ Township, is a son of .\nthony Dagle, a 

£ ^:^ native of Lower Canada, who died in Detroit, 
*- ft 
'-.i^ Mich., about 1856. Of the mother of the 

i subject of this sketch very little is known, as 

she died when he was a child. 

Anthony. Jr., was born in Lower Canada, July 4, 
1S36, and spent the first 12 years of his life in the 
Dominion. He then came to Detroit, Mich., and six 
years later to East Saginaw, where for five years he 
was employed ;is engineer on the river, for John Lar- 
kin. He first came to Midland County- in the fall 
of 1859, since which date he has most of the time 
resided here. In 1S6S he purchased 40 acres of land 
in Midland Township, where he now lives. Since 
then he has added 20 acres to his original purchase, 
and of the total he now has 30 acres in good culti- 
vation. For nearly 20 years his residence was in the 
village of Midland, and at one rime he owned valua- 
ble land within the village limits. He has also been 
employed in a saw-mill for many years. 

Mr. Dagle was married in Midland, Dec 25, 1S5S, 
to Esther, daughter of Thomas and Jane McCartney, 
who was bom in Canada Oct. 12, 1838. She is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. The children 
of Mr. and Mrs. D. have been, Olivia L^ Orville 
(who died when iS months old) and Omiille. 

In general politics, Mr. Dagle is in sympathy with 
the Republican party. 



alph Dunton, Postmaster and merchant at 
Edenviile. and farmer on section 2, Eden- 
'°' ville Township, was bom in Onondaga Co., 
X. v., Oct. 9, 1S30. He is the son of Ruel 
K. and Phebe M. 0^'eeks) Dunton. The 
mother died in St. Clair Co. Mich. The 
father is an inmate of the home of his son. 

Mr. Dunton remained under his parental guidance 







<' 

A 









r 






m 



'Vl)«^^-»- 



■^^^y=^ — ^^-D!i:<^ODv>^ 



-t^^fiy-^ 



^1 









■^^y^rr 






IV- 



MIDLAND 



W^> 



COUNTY. 



..i^ 



^1^^? 









V 






^ 



>i 



until the age of f 7 years, devoting his time to the 
assistance of his father in his farm labors. After 
that period he engaged as a laborer on farms during 
the agricultural seasons, and spent the winters in 
the lumber woods. He operated thus about ten 
years. He made several trips to Midland County, 
and in January, 1S65, he came here to make a per- 
manent location. He managed a saloon during the 
first year thereafter and then bought 1 14 acres of 
wholly unimproved land, on which he went vigor- 
ously to work. Two years later he bought out the 
mercantile interests of his father-in-law, and since 
that time has combined the two callings. He has 
conducted the postoffice at Edenville for 13 years. 
Mr. Dunton has persistently declined public ofl&ce. 
He is a Republican in political faith. 

He was married Dec. 24, 1868, to Alice, daughter 
of Henrj- and Esther (Bowman) Church. She was 
born Dec. i, TS4S. Maud M., born Nov. 23, 1S69, 
and Edith, bom June S, 1S77, are the only children 
of Mr. and Mrs. D. 




^ylvester B. Halbert. farmer, section 22, 
Midland Township, is a son of Seth and 
Sally (.\lden, descendant of a Mayflower 
Pilgrim) Halbert. The former was a native of 
Massachusetts and was of Irish descent. 
They settled in Cortland Co., N. Y., where 
they lived until their death. She died in June, 1S28, 
and he in September, 1882. 

The subject of this sketch was bom in Cortland 
-Co., N. Y., April 22, 1828. When nearly 18 years 
of age he went to Rochester, that State, and worked 
by the month there and at other places, mostly at 
farming, for about five years. For a while he was 
engaged in boating wood to Rochester. Returning 
to Cortland County, he purchased a farm, which he 
managed about two years, when, in 1850, he was 
robbed by an iron-clad mortgage. He then spent a 
year in this count)-, engaged in lumbering in the 
winter. In the spring, in company with John Lar- 
kin and Elihu G. Battles, he commenced farming, 
and clearing 50 acres, which they "took up" in part- 
nership, Mr. Larkin securing the tax title. After- 
ward Mr. Battles bought the original tide. 

He taught school several months, and in Decem- 

. ^^^^^ — ^t^m • 




ber, r856, he moved his family from New York to 
their new home in what was then a wild forest, in 
this county. He first rented a farm for about two 
years, and then bought a brick-yard in Midland, 
where he followed brick-making for 16 years. Mean- 
while he bought 40 acres on section 22, where, after 
quitting the former business, he has since followed 
farming. By subsequent purchase he has added to 
his landed estate, so that at present he owns an ag- 
gregate of 123 acres, about 40 of which is in good 
cultivation. 

Mr. Halbert has spent three years of his life in 
the army, enlisting Aug. 2S, 1S61, in the Second 
Mich. Cav. Most of the time he was militar)- store- 
keeper at Detroit, Mich.; about six months he was in 
Tennessee, or. detached ser\nce. He was discharged 
Sept. 25, 1864, at Louisville, Ky., and returned to 
Midland, where he has since lived. Politically, he 
is a National and an anti-monopolist. 

He was married in Cortland Co., N. Y., July 4, 
1854, to Lydia, daughter of Abel and Emeline 
(Chaniplain) Sanders, who were natives of Vermont 
and Rhode Island. Mrs. H. was bom in Chenango 
Co., N. Y., Oct. 27, r834. Mr. and Mrs*. H. are the 
parents of five children, viz.: Adelaide D., Edward, 
Willie, Seth and Duane B. Edward, WiUie and 
Seth are deceased. 



ames Major, farmer, section 35, Midland 
Township, is a son of Timothy and Esther 
(Bennett) Major, who were natives of Bris- 
tol, England. In their family were seven 
jC children : Eliza, James, John, Charles, George, 
\ Emma and Matilda. 

The eldest son, the subject of this biographical 
sketch, was bom in Bristol, June 18, 1828. At the 
early age of 10I3 years he was bound out for five 
years to a ship owner, who was a resident of the 
island of Jersey. 

Young James served his time, and received his 
license to command a sailing vessel. He then went 
on a trip to the East Indies as a common sailor, and 
made various voyages, until he was 19 years old, 
when he took command of a Dublin brig to Ham- 
burg, Germany, thence to the White Sea, and re- 
turned to Dublin. This trip required si.x months of 
time. Then, in 1847, he sailed under the United 




I 









3>: 






a 



r 






'M^^ 










/'.-N 



T 



<>[iD§ii(i;> 



^^ 



[(^vm" 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



') 



>: 



States flag and came to America. He was on the 
sea for ii years, on the lakes three years. In Octo- 
ber, 1851, he came to Midland County and bought 
54 acres of land, in Midland Township, where he 
has since resided. He has since added 40 acres, in 
IngersoU Township, to his original purchase, and has 
now about 65 acres in cultivation. 

Mr. Major has been honored with the offices of 
Township Treasurer one year, Township Clerk one 
year, Justice of the Peace four terms (still holding 
this office), and School Director 23 years. He votes 
the Republican ticket. 

Mr. Major was married in Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 12, 
1850, to Martha, daughter of William and Kittie 
(Beatty) Glass, natives of Ireland and of English 
and Scotch ancestry, who settled in Londonderry, 
Ireland, where she died in 1845 • he afterward came 
to America, and died in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1852. 
Mrs. Major was born in Londonderry, Dec. 12, 1833, 
and the record of the children in Mr. and Mrs. M.'s 
family is as follows: Ada A., born July 29, 185 1; 
William G., Oct. 8, 1853; Ehza J., Feb. 20, 1856; 
James E., Sept. 21, 1863 ; Bently A., .\pril 18, 1870; 
and Kittie £., March 10, 1873. 

Mrs. Major is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. 

"^'' Ibert M. Button, farmer on section 12, 
Geneva Township, was born in Ashtabula 
Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1853. He is a son of 
Wm. R. and Sarah Jane (Harris) Button, the 
former a native of Ithaca, Tompkins Co., N. 
Y., and the latter of Ohio. His father left 
Tompkins County in 1840 and went to Ashtabula 
Co., Ohio. He was a ship-builder and carpenter by 
trade, and spent 25 years of his life on the " bosom 
of the deep," being engaged 1 2 years of that time as 
master of a vessel. He also had five brothers who 
followed the same vocation. He cleared a small 
farm (40 acres) in Ashtabula County, then sold it 
and purchased another some six miles distant from 
the first. On this latter farm his family lived and he 
followed his vocation on the waters summers and re- 
mained at home winters. In 1869 he came with his 
family to this State and county. At that time there 
was but little improvement here. The railroad 
through Geneva Township was being graded and 




tied, but was not finished until the June following. 
Having faith in the future development of the county, 
he, in company with four others, purchased all of 
section 12, Geneva Township, except 120 acres. 

Albert M. Button, the subject of our biographical 
notice, remained on the parental homestead, with the 
exception of four years, until he attained his 
majority. \ portion of the four years he was 
engaged in railroading, and one summer of the time 
sailed on the brig " E. N. Peck." During his latter 
service, while on the brig, he was taken sick with 
typhoid fever and went home to recuperate. On 
arriving at the age of majority his father gave him a 
saw-mill. The mill was given on condition that the 
son would give up railroading and accepted on that 
condition. He ran the mill for some time, when it 
was burned, and in about 60 days his father had an- 
other built and running, near the depot. It was a 
planing, shingle, lath and circular saw-mill. He ran 
this mill for his father with signal success for three 
or four years, and then ran a mill on Harrison 
Branch, called the " Button Mill," and belonging to 
his father, for two years. At the expiration of the 
latter date he brought the machinery from the latter 
named mill to Buttonville and started an upright 
saw-mill. He ran this for five months and then 
moved it three miles below, where he again ran it 
for about three months, and then sold it, reserving 
the "power." He then engaged for about ten 
months in railroading for the Flint & Pere Marquette 
Railroad Company, when he returned home and 
purchased a circular saw-mill and again engaged at 
his former occupation, which, together with that of 
making shingles, he has continuously followed to the 
present time. May 28, 1884, his mill was burned, 
and at this writing he is re-building. 

Mr. Button was united in marriage Aug. 5, 1875, 
to Miss Mary, daughter of James and Mary (Welsh) 
Martin. Her father was of Irish descent, a native 
of the Empire State, and died in Canada when the 
daughter was only eight months old. The mother 
was born in Canada, and is of Irish descent. Mr. 
and Mrs. Button have two children, namely, Minnie 
Rose, born March 25, 1877, and Willie Burt, born 
Sept. 20, 1878, both in Buttonville. 

Mr. Button has a farm of 80 acres, on 30 acres ot 
which he has chopped the trees, and he has cleared 
15 acres. He has no buildings erected on his land, 



9 



'-V- 



( 



P 



%/ 



1 




(^ 



X S 






:a5 



O 



(-) 




•^^ 



mmm> 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



but contemplates the erection of a house and barn 
this summer. 

Politically, Mr. Button is a believer in and sup- 
porter of the principles of the Republican party. 
He has held the office of School Commissioner, and 
is an esteemed and respected citizen of his township. 
Religiously, he is a member of no Ciuirch. Mrs. 
Button belongs to the Catholic t'hurch. 



/ 




. ohn Currie, farmer on section 31, Mid- 
land Township, is a son of John and Mary 
(McDonald) Currie, natives of Scotland; 
and he also was born in that country, June 15, 
1847. When two years old he was brought by 
his parents to Canada, where they lived till 
r86o. He then came to this county, which has 
since been his home. In 1867 he purchased 80 
acres of wild land where he now resides, to which he 
has added eight acres by purchase. Of the whole, 
55 acres are under cultivation. 

April 23, 1868, in Midland Township, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Jane, daughter of 
Archibald and Annie (Nesbitt) Yule. Parents and 
daughter were natives of Scotland, where the latter 
was born May 20, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. C. have one 
son, John. They incline to the Presbyterian faith, 
and Mr. C. is politically independent. 



-.f — «^/\/V; 



•- I ( - ,>! enjamin Lee, farmer and builder, section 
'\ L-1^,- 13, Edenville Township, was born March 



5ft» 



iv{p, His parents were natives of the Emerald 



cyi^ ' 16, 1843, in County VVicklow, Ireland. 



'4? 




Isle, and came to Canada in 1852. They 
settled in the county of Victoria, and in the 
town of Omemee, an Indian name signifying pigeon. 
His father was a miner and was employed on the 
railroad. 

When Mr. Lee was 14 years old his mother died, 
and he was apprenticed for five years by his father 
to learn the wagon-maker's trade, but the indentures 
were broken at the end of the first year by his em- 
ployer's abandoning the business in consequence of 
falling heir to a considerable property. Mr. Lee 
then turned his attention to farming, to which he 




devoted himself one year, after which he went to 
learn the trade of builder. He was a natural me- 
chanic, and soon acquired sufficient technical knowl- 
edge of the use of tools to operate in his own in- 
terest, and he has pursued the same vocation to the 
present time. He came to Edenville Oct. 17, 187 i, 
and after working as a builder for a year he bought 
ten acres of unimproved land. He has placed the 
entire property under cultivation, with good house, 
barn, well and orchard. He is a Republican and 
has served four years as Justice of the Peace. 

He was married Aug. 29, 1867, at Bobcaygeon, 
Can., to Mary Ann, daughter of John P. and Mary 
Ann (Reith) Patterson. The mother of Mrs. Lee 
died in Ireland at her birth. The father died in 
Hope Township, in 1883. Both parents were natives 
of County Antrim, Ireland. The children of Mr. 
and Mrs. Lee are named and were born as follows: 
Eldward, Sept. 6, 1869; John P., June 29, 1873; 
George D., Jan. 26, 1876; Martha Jane, Aug. 9, 1882. 



■^^ 






V V 



E>- 



Wnk illiam W. Allen, farmer, section 24, Mid- 

iti 



i 



^ 



\^ 



1>. 



A^i^^^ 



land Township, is a son of Ashab^l and 
\yv-'ya'- Catherine (Baldridge) Allen, natives of 

'> Vermont. The latter, after marriage, resided 
awhile in their native State, then removed 

to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., then to Oneida 
County, same State, and finally to Geauga Co., Ohio. 
He was a blacksmith, and died at Akron, Ohio. 
After his death, his widow continued for some time 
to reside in Geauga County, and then removed to 
Eaton, Lorain Co., Ohio, where she died March 20, 
1862. In their family were three sons and one 
daughter, viz.: Matilda S., born May 16, 1831. 
Ethan P., born in 1834, enlisted in Co. G, 12th Ohio 
Cav., and died at Lexington, Ky., in July, 1864; 
William W., the subject of this sketch, born Feb. 28, 
1837 ; and Henry N., Dec. 31, 1839. 

Mr. Allen remained at home, farming and attend- 
ing school, until 18 years of age, and then for six 
years he worked by the month at farming, and taught 
school during the winter seasons. In 1858 he at- 
tended school one term at the Hiram Institute, when 
the late President Garfield was Principal, and Mr. 
Allen was in his class, in analysis and mathematics. 
The next year he attended the Baldwin University, 






0) 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



■55SiC^?!Sr 



I 

f 



.0 



>J 



V 



at Berea, Ohio, one term, and the following year, 
i860, he attended one term of the High School at 
Elyria, Ohio. 

He was married in 1861, and went to Henry Co., 
Ohio, and bought a farm, where he lived a year and 
a half. In October, 1S63, he enlisted in the 12th 
Ohio Cav., for the cause of the Union, and served to 
the close of tlie great life-and-deaih struggle of this 
nation. Most of the time he was in Kentucky, in 
scout and border service. The principal battles in 
which he was engaged were Mount Sterling, Ky., 
and Cumberland Gap. 

After the close of his military service he returned 
to his home in Lorain County. Having disposed of 
his farm in Henry County, he bought a farm, which 
he carried on 11 years, and then sold and came to 
Bay City, Mich., wliere he remained two years. In 
February, 1879, he came to Midhmd Connty and 
settled on an 80-acre tract of land in Midland Town- 
ship, which he had bought in 1876, and where he has 
since resided. He now h?s about 25 acres under 
cultivation. 

Mr. Allen, in religion, is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church; in politics, of the Republican party; 
in social affairs, of the G. A. R., Dwight May Post, 
No. 69. In August, 1883, he was elected a County 
Examiner on the School Board ; has been School 
Moderator two years. School Director, and Road 
Master four years. In the spring of r884 he was 
elected Treasurer of Midland Township. 

July 3, 1861, at Eaton, Lorain Co., Ohio, Mr. Allen 
married Miss Mary, daughter of James and Sarah A. 
(Fleming) Burns, — the latter, natives of Pennsylvania. 
Mr. B. died in Pittsburg, Pa., in September, 1844, 
and Mrs. B. came to this county in 1880, and is now 
tlie wife of James B. Burtless, residing in Midland 
Township. Mrs. Allen was born in Pittsburg, Pa., 
Jan. 23, 1845, is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and is the mother of three children, 
namely. Bert E., Charles H. and Mabel M. 




ill J. Shepherd, farmer, section 2, Edenville 
^^^a|j Township, was born Nov. 11, 1844, in the 
town of Scruple, Oswego Co., N. Y. He is the 
son of Peter D. and Laura (Hoffcaling) Shep- 
herd. His parents were natives of New York, 
and descended from Holland Dutch ancestry. 
His mother resides in Tobacco Township, Gladwin 



Co., Mich. In 1857 they emigrated to Wayne Co., 
Mich., where they settled on a farm and resided five 
years. The father died and the family removed to 
East Saginaw, where they remained five years. 

Mr. Shepherd came to Midland County several 
times previous to his final settlement, which he made 
about the year 1868. He engaged in the liquor busi- 
ness at Edenville, in which he was occupied about 
four years. He went thence to Clare, where he re- 
mained nearly one year. He bought the farm where 
he now resides in 1873. 

He was married July 20, 1872, to Eleanor R., 
daughter of William and Adelia Idella (Belote) 
Mitchell. Her parents live in Vernon Township, 
Isabella County, and are members of the farming 
community. They are natives of New York, and the 
father is of Irish parentage. The mother is of un- 
mixed Yankee descent. The children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Shepherd were born in the following order: 
Carrie Agnes, Oct. 4, 1873; Laura Adelia, Dec. i, 
1875; William Case, Aug. 18, 1877; Edna May, 
March 23, 1879; George Presley, April 3, 1883. Mr. 
Shepherd is a Democrat in political faith. 



"giskJK' 




I^V®^(^#- 



j^S|i ylvester Leonard, farmer, section 9, Mid- 

^^P~ land Township, is a son of Robert and 

^"> Susan Leonard, natives of the Empire 

State. He was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., April 

22, 1827, in which State he remained, engaged 

n farming and lumbering, until about 1864; 

then was in Lapeer County, this State, about two 

years, managing a farm of his own; then sold, and 

bought a farm in Saginaw County, where he lived 

until the fall of 1870; then, for six years, he followed 

teaming at Midland City, during which period he 

bought his present place, of 40 acres, and since about 

1876 this has been his residence. Thirty acres are 

improved. 

Mr. Leonard was first married in Tioga Co., N. Y., 
to Miss Samantha Butler, a native of that State, and 
by this marriage were three children, — Robert, de- 
ceased, Oliver and Sidney. Mrs. L. died about 1862, 
and Mr. L. was again married, June 23, 1868, in 
Genesee Co , Mich., to Mrs. Argina Allen Alger, 
widow of George W. Alger, who died in the army in 
1862. She had by her first marriage five children: 



T 



f 



( 

< 

A 



¥. 






f 



^. 




Mn^^^^ 



-c^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-««^?^ 



f.^ - 

Vf David, Eugene, Leonard, Sophia and Virginia. Mrs. 

'R L. was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., April 30, 1826; is 

. '\ a member of tbe Methodist Episcopal Church. Her 

f grandfather was one of the first American soldiers to 

\ enlist in the Revolutionary war. 

On national questions Mr. Leonard is a Repub- 
lican. 









I 

V 



/n f^'Tfi C oseph D. Short, farmer, section 12, Mid- 
'^iSMiitT I'lnd Township, is a son of William and 
• , ,i "^ Elizabeth (Dolamore) Short, who were na- 
''^ tives of England and came to this county in 
1878. Father died March 28, 1882, and 
mother survives, aged 73, and resides in Mid- 
land. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Lorain Co. 
Ohio, Aug. 15, 1844, and has resided in this county 
since the immigration of the family. His father 
bought 400 acres of land on his arrival here, and at 
his death 120 acres were left to Joseph. Of this 
tract, 40 acres have since been disposed of, and a 
small portion of the remaining 80 is cleared. 

Mr. Short was married in Jackson, Mich., Oct. 27, 
1872, to Miss Elizabeth Lester, who was a native of 
Sturgis, this State. 

In regard to political affairs, Mr. Short is counted 
a Republican. 



Tteaar©-^* 







javid Burton, retired farmer, section 12, 
„,. Edenville Township, was born in Fairfield, 
Somerset Co., Me., Sept. 13, 1801. His 
tW parents, John and Peace (Bowman) Burton, 
were Quakers and of English origin, born re- 
spectively in Maine and Massachusetts. 
They died at Dexter, ALiine, and are buried in the 
cemetery in that place. The father was a black- 
smith by trade, and sometimes pursued it to a limited 
extent in connection with his chief occupation as a 

farmer. 

Mr. Burton passed the entire period of his minority 

with his parents, and on reaching the age of 21 he 

bought 80 acres of land in the adjoining township of 

Garland, and went to work by the month to obtain 




money to pay for it. He remained three years in the 
employment of one man, and at the end of that time 
he had saved $200, the amount he required to dis- 
charge his indebtedness for his land During his 
first year of service he received S9.50 per month for 
eight months ; during the second year of labor he 
was paid monthly $10.80, and during the last year 
about $r I for the same time. He attended school 
winters and did chores for his board. At the end of 
three years he entered upon the work of improving 
his farm, and erected a frame house and frame barn. 
He was married Nov. 22, 1830, to Sarah. R. daughter, 
of Isaac and Hannah (Bartletl) Copeland, by whom 
he had two children : Hannah, born Aug. 13, 1831, 
and an unnamed infant, who died a month after 
birth. The mother died at Dexter, Maine. 

Mr. Burton was a second time married Oct. 29, 
1834, to Enieline Copeland, a cousin of his first wife. 
She was born Aug. 24, 1815, and died in April, 1881. 
Eight children were born of this marriage, as follows: 
Elizabeth L., Sept. 29, 1835; Edwin N., June 20, 
1837 (see sketch); Augusta A., June 4, 1839; Fran- 
ces E , April 17, 1841: Caroline A., Oct. 15. 1843; 
Frank S , July 17, 1845 ; Frederick M., April 3, 1847 ; 
Lillian A., May 14, 1859. Elizabeth married George 
Jacobs, of Midland, and died in child-birth, July 6, 
1863. Her babe died a few days later. Frances 
married Daniel Judge, of Osceola County, and died in 
child-birth, Feb. 21, i860. The life which was the 
price of the young mother's existence was preserved, 
the child — Walter Judge — being brought up by his 
maternal grandfather. He is married and resides in 
Edenville Township. 

Mr. Burton resided on his farm four years, sold out 
and went to his father's homestead to take care of 
his parents and a younger brother, but matters did 
not progress smoothly, and Mr. Burton purchased 
too acres of his father's farm, on which he resided 
four years. At the end of that time he sold again, 
and bought 80 acres of land, where he resided until 
1 85 1. In that year he came to Washtenaw Co., 
Mich., and bought 80 acres. Three years later he 
sold out and went to East Saginaw, where he left his 
family through the winter and came to this county 
and managed a lumber camp, where Midland is now 
situated, as he had done the previous winter. In 
March, 1855, he removed his family and interests to 
Edenville Township, where he became the proprietor 
by purchase of 160 acres of land, paying therefor 50 



i 

-i 



rp 

# 




^^D^>^ 



4^^C@>i 




2l6 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^^^ -#^«®V^ 



cents an acre. He removed hither on the last day 
of March, transporting his effects on the ice in two 
sleigh loads. The family moved into a log house 
which had been used for a camp the previous winter. 
Mr. Burton took charge of the men in the woods, and 
proceeded to chop and clear in the interests of Tift 
Jerome, in order to raise food to supply the camp the 
coming winter. He also cleared two acres of his own 
property, and planted it with turnips and potatoes. 
In the fall he built a log house and took possession 
of it with his family, commencing his pioneer life. 
He has resided on the place ever since, and has been 
identified with the interests and progress of his town- 
ship. He is a Democrat in political connection, and 
was the first Supervisor after the organization of the 
township. He was Town Clerk several years, and 
has served as Township Treasurer. 



i,harles H. L. Hubbell, farmer, section 9 
H| Midland Township, is a son of Charles 

W^ B. and Anna A. (Metier) Hubbell, the 
Mp former a native of Connecticut and the latter 

^ of New Jersey. 

The subject of this sketch was born in 
Bridgeport, Conn., Oct. 31, 1840. At the age of 19 
he came to Oakland Co., Mich., and for two years, 
worked out by the month, at Rose. Aug. to, 1861, 
he enlisted in the Seventh Midi. Inf, and served 
until Jan. 8, 1863, when, on account of having re- 
ceived a severe wound, he was honorably discharged. 
His left leg was broken by a musket ball, in the bat- 
tle of Antietam. He also participated in the battles 
of Winchester, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, 
White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Bull Run (2d), 
South Mountain, etc. • 

On leaving the army, he returned to Oakland Co., 
Mich., and resided there till the spring of 1872, 
when he came to Midland County and purchased 60 
acres of land, in Midland Township, where he has 
since resided. He now has half this tract under 
cultivation. 

Mr. Hubbell was married in Fentonville, Genesee 
Co., Mich., July 2, 1863, to Miss Angeline, daughter 
of Nicholas and Nancy (Hall) Yorton, who were 
natives of the Empire State. She was born in 
Holly, Oakland Co., Mich., Oct. 30, 1843. The chil- 




dren of Mr. and Mrs. H. are five in number, namely: 
George B., Nora A., Fayette S., Myron H. and 
Anna H. 

Mr. Hubbell has been Overseer of Highways for 
several years; is a member of the Masonic and 
Odd Fellows fraternities, and also of the G. A. R., 
Dwight May Post, No. 69. In politics he is in sym- 
pathy with the Democratic party. 



eslie F. Babcoek, farmer on section 9, and 
acting Postmaster at North Bradley, was 
born May r9, 1855, in Grant Co., Wis., and 
is the son of William and Angeline R. (Con- 
/^ verse) Babcoek. His father was born Feb. ri, 
1818, in the State of New York, of English an- 
cestry. The mother was born Sept. 10, 1824, in 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., and comes of the genuine New 
England Puritan stock, as indicated by her family 
name of Converse. The family of the senior Bab- 
coek moved to Wisconsin in 1849, and settled in 
Grant County. After a residence there of r i years 
they started, in the spring of r86o, for Pike's Peak, 
traveling thither in a prairie schooner, in a caravan 
train. They remained among the mountains six 
weeks and retraced their steps to Manchester, Del- 
aware Co., Iowa, where the father opened a shop for 
the prosecution of his trade of wagon-making. He 
conducted his interests in that line two years at that 
place, selling his wagons to farmers. In 1863 he 
came to Livingston Co., Mich., and spent eight years 
at Leroy and Fowlerville. While in that county he 
managed a hotel at Leroy and at a point two miles 
west of Fowlerville, on the road from Detroit to Lan- 
sing, before the construction of the railroads through 
that region. In 1870 he sold out and moved to San- 
ford, where he operated three years as a hotel-keeper. 
In 1873 he removed his family to Cedar Rapids, 
Iowa, where he remained a few months. He bought 
two two-horse teams, one saddle horse and seven 
head of cattle, and went to the eastern part of South- 
ern Iowa, and settled for a winter opposite Nebraska 
City, where he sold out all his stock except one team, 
with which he moved back to Michigan. He built a 
hotel at North Bradley, this county, and the family 
continued to conduct it until 1878. The father died 
Dec. 1 9, 1874. His eldest son was the first Post- 



©) 



v&; 



(5 



0) 



%\®^^&k^ 



-^^^ ^-^<-^D D M ^'i>^ ^^^r- 



-«9S 



|?^(^ 





@)$^t#'^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-:^f4)^^sr 



219 



(h 



master at North Bradley, and still retains the position, 
with his mother as deputy. 

The family included four sons and an adopted 
daughter: Charles J., born Aug. 2, 1847, died Dec. 
21, of the same year; William A., born March 10, 
1849; Franklin M., born Feb. 19, i85i,died May 
12, 1S62; and Alice (adopted). 

Mr. Babcock is a Republican in political connec- 
tion and has been active in local official positions. 
He has served five terms as Supervisor, two terms as 
Town Clerk, two terms as Treasurer and is now 
Deputy Sherifir. 

He was married Aug. 9, 1878, to Alice, daughter 
of Joseph and Rachel (Emlan) Geary. Her father 
was born in Kent, England, and died Feb. 2, 1879; 
her mother is of French descent and resides at Cen- 
tral Lake, Antrim Co., Mich. 




^'^^~ 



J-vw^-f- 



(0 



t 



eorge W. Covert, of the firm of Haley & 
Co., lumbermen and agriculturists, and as- 
sociated with John Haley in the livery 
business, located at Midland, was born Aug. 
31, 1844, in Yates Co., N. Y. His father, 
Isaac Covert, was a farmer and lumberman 
and died in Penn Yan, N. Y., in 1882. The mother, 
Margaret (Mitchell) Covert, died in February, 1846, 
in the State of New York. 

Mr. Covert passed the first 14 years of his life in 
his native State, the most of that time as canal-driver 
on the Erie Canal; and in 1859 went to Allegany Co., 
N. Y., where he operated in the lumber woods three 
years. He came to Midland March 4, 1865, and 
entered the employment of .John Larkin, in whose 
service he continued 14 years, acting as foreman in 
the lumber woods and on the drive. In 1882 he 
formed an association with John Haley, and has 
since operated in lumber jobbing in the interest of 
various parties. Their outfit includes 26 double 
horse teams, and they generally employ about 1 25 
men. In the winter of 1885-4 they put in 15,000,- 
000 feet of lumber. They own 200 acres of land, 
known as the Eastman farm, rated as one of the most 
valuable pieces of property in the county. They also 
own 160 acres of farming land in Larkin, Midland 
County. 

Mr. Covert is a Republican in political faith, and 



has served several terms as a member of the Village 
Board. His marriage to Emma White occurred 
Oct. I, 1865, in Belvidere, Allegany Co., N. Y. 
She was born in the township of Amity, Allegany 
Co., N. Y., Jan. i, 1850, and is the daughter of 
Henry and Alniira White. Maud, born Sept. i6, 
1872, Jesse, born Jan. 7, — and George E., born April 
9, 1883, are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Covert. 

The portrait of Mr. Covert, which appears on the 
opposite page, is that of a popular and influential 
citizen of this county. 




Ifames Rocker, farmer, sections 14 and 15, 
Kdenville Township, was born June 2, 
■' 1825, and is the son of Ichabod and Sylvia 
(Barden) Rooker, both of whom are deceased. 
His father descended from English parentage, 
and was by trade a tanner and currier. 
Mr. Rooker is the eldest of the children born to 
his parents, and left home when a mere boy, since 
which time he has taken care of himself. He lived 
for some time with a Mr. Kendall, of Algonac, St. 
Clair Co., Mich., and lie passed his time alternately 
between Canada and Michigan, until he was 23 
years old. He was married Nov. 23, 1848, to Mary 
Ann Shier. Her father died in Ireland in her in- 
fancy, and her mother resides in Dresden, Canada 
She is 80 years of age. Mrs. Rooker was born Feb. 
9, 1822, near Limerick, Ireland, and came to Amer- 
ica with her mother. Of the seven children born of 
her marriage with Mr. Rooker, five are living — 
Joseph Augustus, Arthur L., Sarah L , Orlando C. 
and Cyrus A. William Henry and Caleb James 
were drowned in the Tittabawassee River, in 1870. 
The life of Mr. Rooker has been spent in agricul- 
tural pursuit and in lumbering. In 1870 he removed 
to Midland County with his family, and purchased 
40 acres of land in a good state of cultivation. 
He has since added 260 acres to his purchase, 
and has improved about 70 acres. He has spent 
the summers in farming, and devoted the winters to 
his lumbering interests. His business has met with 
varying success, and he has twice been tried by sharp 
misfortune and been obliged to witness the sweeping 
away of his frugal earnings. In the fall and winter 
of 1879 and 1880, he lost $r,8oo by an adverse sea- 




m 



•r^• 



^^^ 



j^ 



M>mmii>^ 





VC:ail^lli]s>v 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



% 



^) 



son, and in the fall of 1880 lie was again overtaken 
by disaster in the form of fire, which destroyed his 
house and its contents, involving a loss of $1,200, 
with no insurance. He immediately rebuilt his 
house, and two years later increased the value of his 
property by the erection of ne.v barns. He has 
been in the employ of the Hon. Amasa Rust, of 
Saginaw, 12 years, engaged in buying logs. He is a 
Republican in political sentiment. 



riw i> ougiiei, laiuie 

l^^ft' Township, is a son 1 
IS?''^ Sugnet, natives resf 




4Ml^ 

^^^^tt'ohn Sugnet, farmer, section g. Midland 

~ ■ ' of Louis and Catherine 

spectively of France and 

Switzerland. He was born in Erie Co., N'. Y., 

Sept. 28, 1849, lived in that State until the 

fall of 1867, then three years in this county, 

then a year in his native State, when lie returned to 

Midland County and has since made his residence 

here. 

About 1872 he purchased 40 acres of land, where 
he now lives. He once sold the place, however, but 
bought it back. He has about 18 acres improved, 
and has a prospect of a home ever increasing in 
value. In his political views, Mr. S. is a Repub- 
lican. 

Mr. Sugnet was married in Saginaw City, Mich., 
June 21, 1879, to Philomene, daughter of Frank and 
Angeline Yott, natives of Canada. She was born on 
the Island of St. John's, Ont., May 7, 1858. The 
two living children of Mr. and Mrs. S. are William 
and Mary L. One died in infancy. 




'VJ'fc?<,-.-|v 



^t^i^-?i. 





J illiam R. Haskins, farmer, section 9, 
^J4 Geneva Township, was born in Starks- 
■M^^C' borough Township, Addison Co., Vt., Feb. 
1^K|' 22, 185 I. His father, Leonard Haskins, was 
a native also of Vermont, of English ancestry, 
and died in June, 1869; and his mother, 
Louisa E., nee Grace, is a native of Maine, and is 
now living with ht-r three unmarried sons in the 
above mentioned township in the Green Mountain 
State. Of the seven children in this family, six are 
living, and the subject of this sketch is the third. 



The latter worked out by the month from the age 
of 10 to 21, contributing a part of his wages to the 
support of his parents. When a grown man he 
bought a farm in Vermont, but soon sold it, and in 
1879 came to Midland County, worked a rented 
farm a year and a half, and then purchased 80 acres 
of unimproved land, where he has resided since the 
fall of 1883 and has four acres improved. 

Mr. Haskins was married Dec. 12, r876, to Alzina 
A., daughter of Alvin H. and Mercy (Eddy) Lilly, 
in Starksborough, Vt. Her father, a native of Ver- 
mont and of Scotch descent, died when she was ten 
years of age ; and her mother, also a native of that 
State, of immediate American and remote English 
ancestry, died when she, the daughter, was 20 years 
old. Mrs. H. was born in Starksborough, Vt., Sept. 
I, 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Haskins have had si.\ chil- 
dren, three of whom have died. Following is the 
record: Willie D., born Jan. 6, if 67; Minnie M., 
July 24, 1S69, and died April 13, 1870; Bertha 
Anna, born June 6, 1872; Flora A., Oct. 3, 1875; 
Letta L., April 16, 1878, and died May 29, 1880; 
an infant unnamed, born in Detroit, Dec. 26, 1880, 
died May 17, 1881. All except the last one were 
born in Starksborough, Vt. 

Mr. Haskins is at present a school officer, and in 
politics is a Republican. 



psk4: 



I 



A 



ca: 






l^amuel Wilkinson, farmer, section 11, 
^HC Edenville Township, was born Dec. 29, 
.^' 1832, in Galesburg, Kalamazoo Co., Mich, 
v^ His parents, Samuel and Hannah (Martin) 
Wilkinson, were born respectively in New York 
and Ohio. They removed when the son was 
in early childhood, to Augusta, where they resided 
1 2 years. His father was a blacksmith by trade, 
and followed that calling 50 years. In 1845 the 
family removed to Barry County, where the father 
bought 120 acres of land in Johnstown Township, 
and established a shop on his farm for the pursuit of 
his trade. Later on, the senior Wilkinson removed 
to Gratiot County, where he bought 160 acres of 
land and again followed his two-fold calling. 

Mr. Wilkinson is the eldest of eight children born 
to his parents, with whom he remained until he was 
23 years of age. His first marriage occurred in 



t 

^1/ 



I 



r^<^[l!l:^:DDf>^ 




MIDLAND COUNTY. 



221 






<^ 






V* 



V 

v) 



1 



April, 1861, when Susan Warren, of Clinton County, 
became his wife. Of this union one child — Mary 
Elma — was born, March 8, 1862. The daughter is 
the wife of Jared Roclcford. The second marriage 
of Mr. Wilkinson, to Margaret Anderson, daughter 
of James and Elizabeth (Reid) Anderson, took place 
Jan. 2, 1865. Her parents are natives of Scotland, 
and are residents of Lapeer County. 

Mr. Wilkinson became a resident of Midland 
County in 1861, arriving in the township of Eden- 
ville on the 15th day of November. He spent all 
the seasons of two years in lumbering, and in 1863 
he became the proprietor by purchase of 160 acres 
of unimproved land. On this he made some im- 
provements and sold the entire tract for the purpose 
of relieving himself of all other responsibilities, in 
order to open a blacksmith shop at Edenville. He 
conducted that business three years, sold out and 
bought 40 acres of land in Hope Townshi]), on 
which he repeated his former experience of slightly 
improving and selling. Later, he bought 15 acres 
of land under improvements and fair cultivation, 
which he sold after a brief ownership and bought his 
present homestead, which includes 80 acres. Of 
this, r2 acres are improved, and the place is made 
more valuable and avai able by a good house and 
barn. 



-13= 



'T^r 






&- 




atson Harris, farmer, sec. 28, Hope Tp., 
^ was born in Tora Tp., Oxford Co., Can., 
iP July 2, 1838, the son of Alanson and Polly 
(Halleck) Harris. Mr. H., Sr., came to La- 
peer County, this State, in 1842, and died 
within a month of his wife, at Matamora, that county. 
Their son Watson was reared on the farm until 16 
years of age, when he learned the blacksmith trade. 
This he followed in Lapeer County for 18 years. He 
bought his farm in tliis county in 1878, and first lived 
in a log house just below his present frame house.' 
He first bought 80 acres, but has since added 60 
acres. Of this estate he has 75 acres improved. 

Feb. 12, 1882, was the date of his marriage to 
Miss Ada Thomi.ison, daughter of Howley and Betsey 
(Gooder) Thompson. Mr. T. died in Marcli, 1872, 
aged 52, and Mrs. T. lives at Midland. Mrs. Harris 



was born Aug. 28, 1841, in Ray Township, Macomb 
Co., Mich. By a former marriage, Mr. T. has two 
daughters, Ella E., born June 13, i860, married Feb. 
12, 1S79, to John J. Ryan, of Midland; and Miiiiue 
B., born Dec. 3, 1862, married Jan. i, 1S79, to Carl 
Tower, of Roscommon Tp., Roscommon County. 



L |ffl|k illiam Higgins, farmer, section 26, Mid- 

^jfl land Township, is a son of Harvey and 

j|- ><(■"! Laura (Whitman) Higgins, the former a 

V/f&\ native of Connecticut and the latter of Cat- 

'^ taraugus Co., N. Y. They moved to Penn. 

- sylvania, thence to Trumbull Co., Ohio, and 
two years later, namely, in the fall of 1858, they 
came to Midland County. He died in the fall of 
1859, and she Aug. 7, 1875. They had eight chil- 
dren, named Albert, Alvin, Mary, Henry, Henrietta, 
William, Lydia J. and Leonard, — all of whom lived 
to the age of maturity. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Crawford 
Co., Pa., Aug. I, 1847. In August, 1863, when he 
was but 16 years of age, he enlisted in the war for 
the suppression of the great insurrection, in the i6th 
Mich. Inf., and served three years. He participated 
in the second battle of Bull Run, and in the battles 
of Gettysburg, Petersburg, ("hancellorsville, the 
Wilderness, etc., etc. At the battle of Gettysburg 
he received a slight wound in the hand. 

Since the war he has resided in this county. He 
now owns 170 acres of land, 140 of which he has in 
good cultivation. In regard to political views he is 
counted among the Republicans. 



=|ge^,— 




^ 



X=I 



1 



I Sylvester Erway, farmer, section 12, Eden- 
ville Township, was born Nov. 23, 1828, in 
Catherine Township, Chemung Co., N. Y. 
His parents, Daniel and Hilah (Clark) Erway, 
were natives of the State of New York. His 
father was born Sept. 2, 1807, of Irish and 
Dutch parentage, and died Sept. 26, 1883. The 
mother was born Jan. 17, 1807, and is of Dutch 
descent. 

On attaining his majority, Mr. Erway launclied 
his boat in the tide of effort, by working by the 




^^iIl!i:^DIlf>^r^ 




i^ifs^ 



-::^^^K 6VC^D n :^ Mi>^ :25€^ 



222 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



) 

> 



>:> 



O 






month and also engaging in the manufacture of 
shingles for his own benefit. He was thus occupied 
five years, and then removed to St. Clair Co., Mich., 
where he was engaged one year in the management 
of a shingle mill. At the end of that time he came 
to Edenville Township, Midland County, arriving 
during the last days of November, 1854. There was 
but one settler in the township before him, and his 
marriage was the first event of the kind within the 
limits of Midland County. His first business move- 
ment was to buy 160 acres of land. It was in an 
unbroken state of nature, and of the 100 acres he 
now owns he has placed 60 acres under cultivation. 
He sold 60 acres in 1858 to his brother. 

Mr. Erway was married April 6, 1855, to Julietta, 
daughter of Daniel and Jane T. (Dempster) Bow- 
man. The mother was born of Scotch descent in 
May, 1S20. The father was born of Dutch and 
French ancestors, Sept. 12, 1819. The birth of 
Mrs. Erway occurred Sept. 23, 1840, in Gorham, 
N. Y. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Erway, seven 
in number, were bora as follows: Highley, May 20, 
1856, at Saginaw; Dora H., Aug. 6, 1858; a third 
child was born July 24, i860, without life; Charles 
W., March 16, 1864, and died Sept. 28, 1865; Wil- 
lard Lincoln, Feb. 2, 1866; Mandana, Feb. 20, 
1869; Susan Viola, Feb. 18, 1872; Matilda M., 
March 23, 1874; Leslie G., June 29, 1878. 

The parents are members of the Seventh-Day 
Adventist Church. Mr. Erway is a zealous Repub- 
lican, and during the days of struggle through the 
civil war was an active member of the committee 
which regulated war matters in the community to 
which he belonged. He has been Supervisor a num- 
ber of years. 



eorge A. Thurber, farmer, section 9, In- 
gersoll Township, was born in Canada, 
_ J*- "^ May II, 1845; his parents were Calvin 
' Vj? * and Frances (Craig) Thurber, who were also 
natives of Canada. He was engaged in farm- 
ing, in his native domain, until March, 1872, 
when he came to Midland County and purciiased So 
acres of land, in Ingersoll Township, where he has 
since resided and has 30 acres under cultivation. He 
has been School Treasurer nine years. In politics 





Mr. Thurber was married in Ingham Co., Mich., 
Nov. 2, 1870, to Miss Maria, daughter of Nicholas 
and Elizabeth (Robinson) Lewis, the latter natives of 
New York State. Mrs. T. was born in Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., Jan. 15, 1838. 



^*H^^ 




he is identified with the Democratic party. 



S 



*t;.> 



V^y 



>?jK" Gter L. Tremper, farmer and real- estate 
l[^SIs° agent, residing on section 2, Midland Town- 
J j^"^ ship, is a son of Wilham and Catherine 
y? ^ (Vanderbogart) Tremper, natives of New York, 
"iv and of German and English extraction. The 
parents were married and settled in Rockland Co., 
N. Y., from which place they came to Oakland 
County, tliis State, in 1846, where, Nov. 26, 1882, the 
father died, and in which county the mother is still 
residing. Their family comprised seven children, 
namely: Thomas N., John \V., Peter L., Albert D., 
Sarah C, Mary A., and William I. 

Peter L. Tremper, the third son of his father's 
family, and the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Rockland Co., N. Y., Oct. 15, 1842. He received 
the advantages afforded by the common schools, and 
at the age of 14 years attended the high school at 
Port Washington, Wis. He remained at the latter 
school for about 16 months, when he returned to Oak- 
land County. He soon afterward, in about four 
months, began the study of medicine with Dr. F. S. 
Smith, and continued under his instruction for a year 
and a half, at the expiration of which time he aban- 
doned the study, and again returned to Oakland 
County. 

In April, 1861, Mr. T. enlisted in the sth Mich. 
Vol. Inf , Co. A, and served eight months. July 26, 
1862, he re-enlisted in the 2 2d Mich. Vol. Inf., and 
served for three years and nine months, receiving his 
discharge at Detroit, Mich. He participated in five 
regular engagements and numerous skirmishes, and 
while skirmishing opposite Atlanta, Ga., he re- 
ceived a flesh wound in his right leg, which however 
did not incapacitate him from service. 

After receiving his discharge he returned to his 
home in Oakland County. He remained there for 
about two months, and then moved to Colorado. 
His intention was to engage in and continue mining 
in that State, but he was taken sick with typhoid fe- 
ver soon after he began mining, and returned to Oak- 



f5 

A 



CAC' 



•<■■,■ 
('■ 






? 






^g^^asz.^ 



?:»!-^s®- 





^^' 



r^^^ 



f% 



(h 



J 









V 



.^^ 



■eV<^tlll^llllv>T 

MIDLAND COUNTY. 



land County. He remained in the latter county 
until 1877, and then came to Midland, this county, 
where he resided for one and a half years, following 
the carpenter's trade for a livelihood. 

In the spring of 1879 Mr. Tremper purchased 60 
acres of wild land on section 2, Midland Township, 
on which he located. He has since added 80 acres 
to his purchase, and of the total has about 38 acres 
under improvement. 

Mr. Tremper was married in Oakland County, this 
State, Nov. 6, 1867, to Miss Mary E., daughter of 
Robert and Mary (Neat) Crickmore, natives of Eng- 
land. Mrs. T. was born in Oakland County May 29, 
1848. She is the mother, by Mr. T., of eight chil- 
dren, namely: Robert T., William V., Mary C, 
Harry P., Mabel A., Grace E., Thomas N. and Ger- 
trude. 

Mr. Tremper has been Moderator of his school 
district for several years. He is a member of the 
Masonic Order, and also a member of Dwight May 
Post, No. 69, G. A. R., of Midland City. He is 
also an honorary member of three different sports- 
men's associations, and is President of the Midland 
Sportsmen's Association. Politically he is a National. 
He is largely interested in the affairs of this county, 
and in the fall of 1SS2 ran against Michael Ryan for 
the office of Sheriff, but was defeated by 151 votes. 
He is at present a real-estate agent, and has a large 
number of acres of land entrusted to him for sale. 
He furnishes abstracts and gives warranty deeds. 



— ^'^^Sf-i^S-^'^'^ — 



-a-feL-^t. 




jilonzo M. Hawley, farmer, section 35, Eden- 
^ ville Township, was born April 5, 1846, in 
Allegany Co., N. Y., and is the son of Daniel 
'■jjir and Sarah (Huff) Hawley. The father died 
] Jan. 28, 1880, in Jerome Township; the 
mother, now Mrs. William Mattliews, resides in Ros- 
common County. 

The parents of Mr. Hawley removed to Sanilac 
County in 1859. After a residence of two years tliey 
came to Midland County, where the father bought a 
farm of 80 acres. He soon disposed of the property 
by sale, and trafficked in lands about ten years, 
when he settled upon a farm, which included 20 
acres, wliere he passed the remainder of his life. 
Mr. Hawley was under the paternal guidance until 





■nirtis J. Winslow, farmer, section 2, Rich- 
^ land Township, Saginaw County, is a son 



Vto) 



he was 17 years old, and worked winters in the lum- S^ 
ber woods and during the spring seasons on the '^ 
river. When he reached the age of 21 years he ^, 
bought 147 acres of land on which he made a small 1" 
inij)rovement, and sold the place. His ne.xt invest- 
ment was in I 20 acres, which he retained about six 
years, removing the lumber from it. He then sold 
it and bought the farm, which is now his homestead. 
It contains 72 acres, and at the time of his purchase 
was under slight improvements. He has placed 22 
acres in a highly creditable condition, and built a 
small frame house and a large barn. He is a Re- 
publican in political connection, and has served in 
the school offices. 

He was married Oct. 8, 1864, in Midland County, 
to Alida, daughter of Harrison and Mahala (Fox) 
Averill. Her father was born April 7, 181 3, and is 
living at North Bradley. The mother died near 
London, Can. Mrs. Hawley was born May 15, 1846. 
Their two children are: Ada M., born Aug. i, 1865, 
is now the wife of Richard Trim, of Montcalm 
County; Frank A., born July 23, 1876, died March 13, 
1880. 



9 






of Loring S. and Mary (Brown) Winslow. 
(See sketch of J. J. Winslow.) He was born 
in Barnard, Windsor Co., Vt., April 13, 185 1 ; 
at the age of 15 he came thence to Midland County, 
with his brothers, J. J. and Loring S., and for about 
four years he worked at clearing up the land which 
had been taken up by his father some 20 years pre- 
viously. He was next employed for about four years 
in lumbering, in the woods and on the river, and in 
the spring of 1873 he purchased the small stock of 
groceries — including a small house — then owned by 
Levi B. Chamberlain, at Lee's Corners. Two years 
later he formed a partnership with James A. Cham- 
berlain, under the firm name of Winslow & Cham- 
berlain, and thus continued over a year, when 
Mr. W. bought out the entire stock of goods and 
continued in business at Lee's Corners until Jan- 
uary, 1883, when he sold out to his brother 
Charles. He then went to a point in Saginaw 
County on the Midland County line and purchased 



<W 




^nDf>^- 



-caij^^ 




224 



MTDLAND COUNTY. 



-^^^^^\M) 



;0 






t 



74 acres of land; and, on quitting business at 
Lee's Corners, he at once began to build a fine house 
of modern style, which he now occupies. Ten acres 
of his land is cleared and in a good state of cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr. Winslow has held the office of Supervisor of 
Ingersoll Township one year, and of Township Clerk 
four years. In 1S73 he was appointed Postmaster at 
Lee's Corners, under President Grant, and still holds 
that commission. By Mr. Winslow's influence, this 
postoffice was established. Politically, he is a 
Democrat. 

Mr. Winslow was first married in Ingersoll Town- 
ship, April, 1873, to Miss Clara A., daughter of Erial 
and Mary A. Chamberlain, and they had two chil- 
dren, — Rollin C. and Frank. The latter died in 
August, 1877. Mrs. W. died April 12, 1875, and Mr. 
W. was again married, in the same township, Jan. 6, 
1877, to Miss Eva A., daughter of Solon T. and 
Joanna (Cooley) Hutchins. (See sketch of S. T. 
Hutchins.) Mrs. W. was born in Ingersoll Town- 
ship, Midland County, Jan. 6, i860. By the latter 
marriage there have been two children, — Susan D. 
and Cora E. 



homas Brine, farmer, section 12, Midland 
Township, is a son of James and Ann 
* (Kehoe) Brine, natives of the Emerald 
Isle, in which country the subject of this 
sketch was also born, March 5, 1S47. When 
he was six years of age the family emigrated 
to Canada, where he lived till the fall of 1865, when 
he came to Midland County. Here he has been 
engaged in the lumber woods during the winters and 
on the river during the summers. In the summer of 
1877 he bought 80 acres of land where he now lives, 
and settled upon it the following year. He now has 
30 acres of this in a well improved state of cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr. Brine was married at Port Huron, Mich., May 
22, 1876, to Miss Maggie Haley, a native of Canada. 
She was born Jan. 18, 1855. Her father, John 
Haley, and her mother, Ann (Dolan) Haley, are 
natives of Ireland, and now reside in this county. 
The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Brine were born 
as follows: Annie, June 22, 1877; Thomas, Jan. i. 





1880; Margaret E., Jan. 30, 1883. 

■)(^f|.3 -^^^L. 




€ 



f 



Thomas died when ig months old. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brine are members of the Catholic Church, and in 
politics Mr. B. is a " National." 

^l^'ohn M. Hall, farmer, section 8, Midland 

§Mm s' Township, is a son of James and Margaret 
■* (Ferguson) Hall, who were natives of the 
State of New York. He was born in Genesee 
Co., Mich., Feb. 26, 1S39, received a common- 
school education, and remained at his parental 
home until he was 27 years of age, engaged in farm- 
ing and other occupations. 

August II, 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 23d Mich. 
Inf., participated in all the battles in which his regi- 
ment engaged, — as the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., 
Duck River, Tenn., siege of Atlanta, etc., — and was 
discharged in July, 1865. He then lived in Saginaw 
Co., Mich., until the spring of 1867, when he came 
to Midland County and purchased 80 acres, where 
he has lived since 187 i. The intervening time he 
spent in Midland City, following carpentry. He now 
has 20 acres of his land in a good state of cultiva- 
tion. 

March 4, 1866, in Saginaw Co., Mich., Mr. Hall 
was married to Miss Frances, daughter of William 
and Margaret (Francis) Hopton, natives of England. 
She was born in Ireland, Jan. 23, 1839. Their. 
living children now are, Charles W., Guy E. and 
Curtis J.; and the deceased, Lewis C, John R. and 
an unnamed infant. 

Mr. Hall has been constable and Pathmaster since 
his residence in Midland County. He is a charter 
member of Dwight May Post, No. 69, G. A. R., of 
Midland City, and in politics votes with the Demo- 
cratic party. 



:; — ^. 



" ^^i ott S. Holmes, farmer, section 35, Eden- 

ville Township, was born Jan. 15, 1838, in (o'> 
V I' Ridgeway, Orleans Co., N. Y., and is the 
feju son of Jeremiah and Laura (Smith) Holmes. 
His father was born in 1800, in Herkimer Co., 
N. Y., where he was brought up to the pro- 
fession of farmer, and was also taught the trade of 
carpenter. The mother was born in Bristol Co., 



c 



< 



^ 



<^ii!i^nti;>^@- 




Xn^^ 



?v^? 



<X- 



-isr 



4:Pli^:ilD^^v 



Trrr 

MIDLAND 



.^ 



COUNTY. 



225 



% 



J 



% 



) 



:-<e 



V 

) 



t 






Mass., Sept. 27, 1S06. They removed with their 
family to .Allegany Co., N. Y., where the father pur- 
chased a small farm. In the fall of 1856 they set- 
tled in Crawford Co., Pa., where they resided until 
1859, on a rented farm. In the year named, he 
came to Midland County, whither two children had 
preceded him. He was accompanied by his wife and 
three younger children. He remained in Midland 
Township the winter following his arrival, and in 
the spring ensuing settled upon 60 acres of land he 
had purchased in Jerome Township. Its improve- 
ments consisted of a shanty and a few acres on 
which the timber had been slashed down. Here he 
conducted a kind of lumbermen's hotel until the 
time of his death, Oct. 8, 1868. 

The home of his parents was that of Mr. Holmes 
until he was 30 years of age, and he was occupied 
in some of the various departments of lumbering in 
his own interest and in that of others. He was mar- 
ried Dec. 27, 1868, to Lucia O., daughter of Angel 
L. and Harriet (Wait) McAllister. Her father was 
born of Scotch parentage, in Vermont, Aug. 24, 
1S04, and died July i, i86i, in Northumberland Co., 
Can., where the mother was born Dec. 30, 18 12, and 
descended from Welsh parents. She is a second time 
married, and resides in Hope Township. Mrs. 
Holmes was born Sept. 28, 1848. Following is the 
record of the children born of her marriage to Mr. 
Holmes: Elbert L. was born Nov. 4, 1869; Jerry 
W., Oct. 4, 187 1, died Aug. 20, 1882; Eva May, 
Nov. ir, 1873; Grant, Oct. 5, 1876; Maggie B., 
Dec. I, 187-. Mr. Holmes has had a reasonably 
successful career as a lumberman. He is a member 
of the Republican party in politics, and has been 
Highway Commissioner two terms. 

ilton M. Boies, farmer, section 9, Mid- 
land Township, was born in Genesee Co., 
f^;j^ 1^ Mich., Sept. 19, 1845. His father, Tim- 
^^\^ othy Boies, was from the Bay State, and his 
mother, Martha, /it'e Yorton, was a native of 
the Empire State. 
His education was mostly received at the common 
school and at home, and at the age of 19 he started 
out in life for himself, working by the month at 
different kinds of business. Two years he spent in 




Ohio. In the spring of 1869, in company with his 
uncle, Merritt Yorton, he bought a quarter-section 
of timber land. After continuing together five years, 
they divided their land, and Mr. Boies now owns 77 
acres, about 40 of which is under cultivation, con- 
stituting a very nice farm. 

Mr. B. was first married in Flint, Mich., Sept. 28, 
1870, to Miss x\ngeline, daughter of Merritt and 
Amelia (Taylor) Yorton, who was born in Genesee 
Co., Mich., in 1850, and died June 22, 1873. Mr. 
Boies was again married, in Midland Township, Oct. 
2, 1876, to Miss Eliza R., daughter of Urial and 
Emily (Babcock) Rockwood, — parents natives of the 
State of New York. She was born in Chautauqua 
Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1857. By this marriage there is 
one child, Lucy M. 

Mr. Boies has held the offices of Drain Commis- 
sioner and Overseer of Highways, and in his politics 
he is a Republican. Both he and his wife belong to 
the Baptist Church. 




c^ 



^ 



yrap^l'^ennis Hawley, farmer, section 35, Eden- 
|-' y.y/l t ville Township, was born Jan. 14, 1841, in 
Ijih^^ Canader Township, Allegany Co., N. Y., 
"jm and is the son of Daniel and Sarah (Huff) 
^ Hawley. The parents were natives of the State 
} of New York, and in 1859 removed to Lexing- 
ton, Sanilac Co., Mich. The mother is still living, in 
Roscommon Co., Mich. The father died Jan. 28, 
18S0. 

Mr. Hawley was the third of 1 1 children born to 
his parents ; and, at the age of 1 1 years, he began 
to maintain himself, which he did by working among 
the farmers until he was of age. In July, i860, he 
came to Midland County, where he has since been 
resident. He operated some time as a lumberman, 
and bought 2 1 acres of land in Jerome Township, 
which he sold 18 months later, and bought 40 acres 
adjoining. He retained possession of this about one 
year, sold out, and bought 50 acres in Kalamazoo 
County. A year later he again sold out, and then 
he bought 40 acres of unimproved land not far 
from Edenville. On this land he erected a house 
and barn, which he sold a few months later. In the 
fall of the same year he bought 40 acres in Jerome 
Township, on which he built a house. He kept the 



i 



^ 



m^^ 



A. 



-^4^^f 




r^J^^ 



T 



mv^Mv)-^ 



raJ^^^ 



-«4^^(* 



226 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






place one year, sold out and purchased the farm he 
now owns and occupies, which includes 167 acres, 
with a small tract under improvements and cultiva- 
tion. Of this he has now 65 acres improved and 
tilled. Mr. Hawley is a Republican in political be- 
lief. 

• He was married Oct. 4, 1862, in Midland City, to 
Loretta A., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Sey- 
mour) Fowler. The mother died when Mrs. Hawley 
was six years old, in Branch Co., Ind. All traces of 
the father are lost. Nine children have been born 
of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hawley; eight are 
still living. EUinor J. was born Feb. 15, 1864; 
Mary B., May 6, 1866; Loretta E., July 6, 1868; 
Adelbert, Nov. 17, 1870; Freddie G., Oct. 10, 1874; 
Myrtle L., Sept. 13, 1877; Nora G., Aug. 11, 1879; 
William Edward, May 14, 1882 ; a daughter, twin 
with the last named child, died on the day of her 
birth. 



.^f Mii^harles G. Brown, owning a farm on sec- 
tlim^Jg tion 25, Larkin, is a son of Henry and 



fJ^ Mary Brown, natives of Germany; and was 
^{f also born in " De Faderland," Dec. 25, 1852. 
He was about 12 years old when he crossed 
the waters to the United States, and he fol- 
lowed the occupation of sailor for about 16 years. 
In 188 1 he came to Midland County and bought 80 
acres of section 25, in Larkin Township. He is a 
member of the German Lutheran Church, and is in 
politics a supporter of Republicanism. 



C. Thompson, dealer in books, stationery 
M^^sf; Yankee notions, etc., at Midland, was born 
'§Ps in Canada, and is the son of George and 
Esther (Ogden) Thompson, the former a native 
of Ireland, the latter born in New York, of 
German ancestry. His parents died when he was in 
early childhood. At the age of five years he accom- 
panied an uncle by marriage, Coleman Roe, to St. 
Clair Co., Mich., v/here the latter bought a farm. 
When Mr. Thompson was ten years old, he engaged 
, in the lake service as a cabin boy, and continued in 




that employment until he passed several grades of 
advancement and became first male. In 1859 he 
became a seaman in the United States Navy, where 
he remained two years. His next engagement was 
on a revenue cutter for six months. He next gave 
his attention to the business of a machinist, and 
went into the car-shops at Lawrence, Kansas. He 
went thence to Sedalia, Mo., where he was foreman 
in the shops of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- 
road Company. In September, 1872, he came to 
Midland, where he opened a restaurant and con- 
fectionery establishment, which he conducted about 
a twelvemonth. In 1873 he opened the business in 
which he is at present engaged. His stock averages 
from $3,000 to S5i°°o '" value, and his trade is pros- 
perous and popular. His wares include all varieties 
of merchandise common to similar establishments. 
He owns considerable valuable property in Midland. 
His marriage to Miss Eliza J. Bullock occurred 
March 16, 1863. She was born April 17, 1844, and 
is the daughter of Shubal and Abigail (Weeks) 
Thompson. Their children were born in the follow- 
ing order: Cora J., Charlie, Minnie A., Flora, Eddie, 
Walter B. and an infant yet unnamed. The oldest 
daughter was born in St. Clair Co., Mich. The 
oldest son was born in Ulica, Mo. The third and 
fourth children were born in Lawrence, Kansas. 
Eddie was born in Sedalia, and the two youngest in 
Midland. Mr. T. is a member of the Masonic 
Order. 







**itc4 




Ifred See, farmer, section 32, Midland Town- 

Ijf ship, is a son of Ira and Permelia (Delila) 

** See, who were natives of New York State. 

Sijft' Mother died in Schenectady Co., N. Y., in 

\\r October, 1841, and father in Grand Rapids, 

1 Mich., in August, 1876. 

Alfred was born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., May 15, 
1840; at the age of 15 years he began to learn the 
mason's trade, but in three months he came to 
Wayne Co., Mich., where he lived a year; then he 
resided in Hillsdale County awhile, Ottawa County 
four years, and in i860 went to Illinois, where, in 
1861, he enhsted in the 15th 111. Vol. Inf. After 
serving nearly a year, he was discharged on account 
of disability. He then returned to Ottawa Co., Mich., 
bought a farm and continued to live there till the 



|P-V®))«^#- 



-K>DIi:<(1tl^>^ 



G>. 



-^^5f 



^^^^> 



^ 



(: 
A 



ca: 



V 



(^ 



^ 




^J^t#* 



■:a€ ^ O ^ ^^QU^UUr ^v ^' M »^' 



f 



:a5 



V 

> 



^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



spring of i88r, when he sold out and came to Mid- 
land County. Here he purchased 80 acres, where he 
resides and has nearly all his land under cultivation. 
His farm is in a good productive condition. 

Feb. 28, 1863, in Ottawa Co., Mich., Mr. See mar- 
ried Mrs. Tane, daughter of Horace and Priscilla 
(Gray) Goodrich and widow of John Herrinian, who 
died in 1862. She was born in Columbus, Ohio, 
May 12, 1842. By her first marriage she had one 
child, Elizabeth J., and by her present, throe chil- 
dren, — Delila P., Nathaniel G. and .-^lice P. 

Mr. See is a member of Dwight May Post, No. 6g, 
G. A. R.,and in politics is a Republican. 




^<®!-«iiHe>^ 



^^iSenson B. Bailey, farmer and stock-raiser, 
^3 iP section 34, Jasper Township, was born in 
^^''^ Stei-.ben Co., N. Y., April 27, 1825. His 



jC® parents, Alson L. and Ann (Benson) Bailey, 
were natives of New York, were of New Eng- 
land ancestry and of English descent. His 
father was a general laborer, and died at the resi- 
dence of his son, Benson, May 20, 1873, at the age of 
73 years. His mother died when he was si.x days 
old, in Steuben Co., N. Y., May 3, 1825. They were 
the parents of three children, — two sons and one 
daughter. 

The subject of this sketch, the youngest child in 
the above family, was nine years old when the family 
moved to Medina Co., Ohio; five years later they 
came to Michigan, locating in Seneca Township, 
Lenawee County, being among the first settlers in 
that county. When 20 years of age, Mr. Bailey set 
out as a common laborer on his account, and was 
thus engaged until his marriage. This event took 
place at Elkhart, Ind., his choice for life's partner 
being Miss Mary Ludlow, daughter of Samuel and 
Elizabeth (Bruglar) Ludlow, natives of New England 
and of German and English descent. Her father 
died near Elkhart, Ind., some years ago, and her 
mother in Pennsylvania, July 28, 1830. Mrs. B. was 
born March 25, 1829, in Franklin Township, Lycom- 
ing Co., Pa. Being left an orphan when very young, 
she was brought up by her relatives, residing at first 
for a time in Crawford Co, Pa., then at Akron, Ohio, 
and then at Elkhart, Ind. 

Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bailey 
settled on a farm in Lenawee Co., Mich., and in 




1864 they came to Midland County, where Mr. B. 
purchased a quarter of section 34, Jasper Township, 
being the sixth settler in the township. His land at 
that time was of course entirely wild, and he had to 
go to St. John's, a distance of 37 miles, for market 
goods, paying "war" prices for their provisions. But 
he kept on industriously at work, and adding to his 
land property till he now has 465 acres, with 150 im- 
proved. He has recently erected a large granary, 36 
by 50 feet, in addition to other important farm build- 
ings; has also a good residence, besides smaller 
dwellings on the various divisions of his estate. His 
specialty in stock-raising is the old Durham breed of 
cattle. Altogether, he has the largest and best im- 
proved farm in the township. 

For sixteen winter and four summer seasons Mr. 
Bailey also followed lumbering e.xtensively, " putting 
in " two to three million feet of logs in one season. 
He also built nine miles of the State road, which'runs 
through the county. 

Mr. Bailey was the first County Drain Commis- 
sioner of Midland, was Township Treasurer three 
years, and Road Commissioner for nine consecutive 
years. In his political views he is a Republican. 

Mr. and Mrs. B. have had four children, namely: 
Lester M., born Oct. 29, 1855; William, born April 
15, 1857, died Aug. 15, 1872; Ella R., born April i, 
i860; and Mary E., Sept. 25, 1865. 



#^ 



-{— 







A 









|.olomon Parker, farmer, section 12, Inger- 
soll Township, is a son of Robert and Sarah 
|(-i' (Boyd) Parker, natives respectively of Ver- 
i\^ mont and Canada. The former died in Can- 
ada, and the latter still survives, residing in 
this county. 

Mr. Parker, the subject of this biographical notice, 
was born in the township of Mountain, Ontario, Can- 
ada, April 21, 1827; when 19 years of age he went 
upon the lakes as engineer, which vocation he followed 
several years. He learned the machinists' trade in 
Lockport, N. Y. After leaving the lakes he followed 
his trade about 10 years in Canada, and then for one 
season he ran a tug on Saginaw Bay. In 1S68 he 
built, for other parties, the first saw and shingle mill 
north of Midland; he built two mills in this county. 
In 1862 Mr. Parker purchased a quarter-section of 




5«^# 



^s^^ — ^T^^DH^nni^^^^^ — ^^^ 



«^^^_ 





r<4lll]^llll^>v 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




wild land in IngersoU Township, and continued pur- 
chasing until he had 578 acres; but he has since dis- 
posed of all but 140 acres. He now has go acres 
well improved, equipped with- good buildings, etc. 

In politics Mr. Parker is classed with the Repub- 
licans, and he has been honored with the offices of 
Drain Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. 

Mr. Parker was married in Niagara Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 26, 1847, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of Richard 
and Margaret Ault, who were natives of Canada. 
Mrs. P. was born also in Canada, April 5, 1833. 
Their living children are, Edward M., born March 8, 
1857; Agnes A., born April 21, 1856; Wesley M., 
Nov. 2, 1859; and Berkley A., born Dec. 25, 1868. 
The deceased are William F., born Feb. 18, 1854; 
and two who died in infancy. 







J^^mSdi^ 



\ iehard Ashby, farmer, section 29, Midland 
Township, is a son of William and Jane 
(Milson) Ashby, natives of England, and 
Vi^ was born in that country May 10, 1833. 
When about 25 years old he came to the 
United States, and soon went to Canada, 
where he lived until the spring of 1868. He then 
came to Midland County and bought 80 acres of 
land on section 29, Midland Township, where he has 
since made his residence. He has a well cultivated 
farm of 45 acres. 

Mr. Ashby was married in Canada, Feb. 24, 1865, 
to Mary A. Davison, who was born in that country. 
May 2c, 1848. The children of Mr. and Mrs. A. 
are Jennie, George J., William H. and Gertrude L. 
One child died in infancy. 

In respect to general political issues, Mr. Ashby is 
in sympathy with the National party. 




si ' hilip Alguire, farmer on section 36, Mid- 
land Township, is a son of Henry and 



M 



R3^ Mary (Warner) Alguire, natives of Canada, 
■^ where he also was born, Sept. 12, 1S49. He 



V 



11^ resided in the Dominion until 1873, when he 
selected this county as his home, and has since 
followed agriculture here. 



iA,®)>^^#- 



He owns a good farm of 



40 acres, all of which is in a creditable state of 
cultivation. 

He was married in Canada, March 6, 187 1, to 
Miss Mary J. Thompson, a native of that county. 
Their only "troubles" have been little ones, and their 
names are Myrtle and Mary J. O. The former is 
not living. Politically, Mr. A. is a Republican. 

'■ 1.', f^fi L oseph H. Tripp, farmer, section 18, Jerome 
■ '£iiJ.," Township, was born Feb. 16, 1855, and is 
: ' the son of Joseph and Charlotte (Chatter- 

ton) Tripp. Joseph Tripp, senior, was born 
April II, 1805, in Perry, Northumberland Co., 
Can., of English parentage. He died June 27, 
J 88 1, aged 69 years. He was the first white settler 
on the line of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad 
west of Sanford in Midland County. In the spring 
of 1857 he bought of H. Averill 160 acres of land 
on the Salt River bottoms, where he built a log cabin 
and made preparations to till the soil, which occupa- 
tion he carried on until his death. He was widely 
known and respected as a hospitable, honorable, in- 
dustrious pioneer. He was a soldier in the War of 
the Revolution and received a pension from the 
American Government for his seven years' service 
in the struggle for national independence. The 
eight children included in the family of the sen- 
ior Tripp are all living, and were born in the follow- 
ing order: James, Sept. 11, 1839; Charles, March 
30, 1841 ; Jane, April i, 1844 ; Nancy, Nov. 10, 1846 ; 
Jacob, Jan. 23, 1849; George, Dec. 9, 185 i ; Joseph 
(as stated above); Alfred, April 16, 1S57. The 
mother was born Feb. 14, 1819, and resides in Je- 
rome Township. 

At the age of 16 years, Mr. Tripp, of this sketch, 
went to Ogle Co., III., where he engaged by the 
month as a farm laborer. He remained in the 
Prairie State seven years, and then came to Michigan 
and passed two winters in the lumber woods. In 
1878 he was employed by his father in the manage- 
ment of the homestead, and the following year he 
settled on his present place. He was married Feb. 
27, 1878, to Nancy A., daughter of L. H. and Emily 
A. (Jacques) Stevens. Her father is living in El- 
mi ra, Otsego Co., Mich., and is a mason by trade; 
he is of English descent. Her mother died Oct. 28, 



VS 









V 



I 




^0^r^^m^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^^ 



mvm^ 



229 



«>:o3 



1876, in East Saginaw. The daughter was born 
Oct. 31, 1862. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Tripp were born as follows: Joseph Ernest, Jane 24, 
TS79; Myrtle May, March 13, 1882. 

Mr. Tripp is a Republican in political faith. He 
owns 40 acres of land, 10 acres of which are im- 
proved. 



5*H^*^ 







V 

:) 



I m. H. Howe, farmer, on section 4, Larkin, 
is a son of James C. and Fidelia (Go- 
tham) Howe, natives of the State of New 
York ; and he was born in Clayton, Jeffer- 
son Co., N. Y., Aug. 17, 1848. He received 
a common-school education, and at the age of 
16 started out to make his own way in life, following 
the lakes as a common sailor for 11 years. He first 
came to Midland County about 1868, but remained 
only a short time. After visiting various sections of 
the country, he returned the following spring, and 
has since made his home in this county. In 1878 
he purchased 53 acres in Larkin Township, where 
he now lives, and at the present time 16 acres are 
cleared and under cultivation. 

May 20, 1875, at Loomis, Isabella County, Miss 
Lucinda M. Wilson became Mrs. Wm. H. Howe. 
She was born in Beloit, Wis., Jan. 3, 1859, and is the 
daughter of Wm. C. and Rachel (Wells) Wilson. 
Mr. and Mrs. Howe have had, as children : Frederick 
O., Dora A. and Ada E. 

Mr. H. has held the offices of Township Clerk 
and School Moderator. Politically, he votes the 
, National ticket. He and wife are members of the 
Christian Church. 



^ 







% 



He received a common-school education. Since he 
was 19 he has been employed in the woods, on the 
river during the spring, and farming. In t88i he 
bought a tract of 8b acres on Pine River, which he 
afterward disposed of, and in January, 1882, he pur- 
chased 132 acres on section 18, where he now re- 
sides. 

He was married in Homer Township, Midland 
County, Oct. 16, 1882, to Maloa, daughter of Joseph 
and Margaret Cariow, the latter natives of (Canada. 

Mr. Barton has been Overseer of Highways one 
year, and in his political views is a Republican. 
Mrs. B. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



Ai.vj' 




^^^^^^^^^^^^•^"^^ 

rank Barton, farmer, section 18, Midland 
Tovirnshi]), is a son of Anthony and 
Amelia (Foot) Barton; the latter, natives 
^ of New York State, came to Midland about 
1854, and were therefore among the earliest 
pioneers. 
The subject of this sketch, the eldest of the chil- 
dren in the above family, was liorn in Midland 
County, March 8, 1855, and from the age of one 
year to 16 years he lived with his grandmother; she 
then died and he lived at home until 19 years old. 

^^^ ^^^ — ^T^^in !i % 



(®j 



f) 

s 



■^ 



(') 



: I I'^f^f] C ohn Post, farmer and saw and planing mill 

'5'I:l. ^ proprietor, residing at Coleman, Warren 
' Township, was born March 19, 1834, in 
Allegany Co., N. Y. 

The parents of Mr. Post are Peter and Mary =i 

i"* (Reynolds) Post. The father was born April >> 
6, 1807, in Belfast, Allegany County, and is of Ger- c= 
man descent. He is at present engaged in the hotel 
business at Belvidere, his native county, and has fol- 
lowed that occupation for 30 years. The mother was 
born Dec. 12, 1808, and was married on her 21st 
birthday, Dec. 12, 1829. 

The subject of this biographical notice was brought 
up in his father's hotel, attended the common schools 
and assisted in the cultivation of a small farm until 
he attained the age of 21 years. His father's family 
consisted of nine children, six boys and three girls, 
who all grew to maturity except one (a girl), who died 
in infancy. John was the oldest of the boys, and on 
him a great portion of the labor in the maintenance 
of the family devolved. 

On arriving at the age of maturity he engaged with 
his father in the hotel business and in cultivating the 
f-um. He continued the business for some three 
years, and then engaged with his father in the grocery 'P^ 
trade. John managed the business for about two 
years, when the partnership was dissolved and he con- 
tinued alone for a year, when he disposed of his stock ( !>' 
for a farm. The farm was located two miles from 
Belvidere, and when he made the exchange he did (^ 
so for the purpose of procuring the tiniber on the ^ 



-m, 



-^m^ ^4^^^^J-^ 




zJ^K — 6v<-:nii:<^:iiii^i>v 



4^^5f(svfii 



MIDLAND COUNTY . 



) 

>0 



;^) 



and. He soon found lie had no outlet in which to 
get his timber to market, and was compelled to )Kir- 

.-^ chase 60 acres additional in order to procure one. 
% He moved on this land and engaged in cutting and 

^ marketing his lumber, in which vocation he met with 

"^ signal success. 

June II, 1863, Mr. Post enlisted in Co., M, 4th 
N. Y. Heavy Artillery. His company was attached 
to the 6th Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac, 
and participated in the battles of Spottsylvania 
Court-House, Wilderness and others. The 4th N. Y. 
Heavy Artillery was divided into batteries, and the 
one to which Mr. Post belonged was known as the 
3d N. Y. Ind. Light Artillery. It participated in nu- 
merous engagements up to the date of Lee's surren- 
der, and holds an honorable place in the history of 
that campaign, and was honorably mustered out in 
August, 1865. 

After discharge from his country's service, Mr. 
Post returned to Belvidere and moved his family, 
which had remained in Belvidere during his absence 
in the army, on his farm. He then spent some time 
in the oil regions, but wisely concluded not to invest, 
and, returning, purchased a team and engaged in 
lumbering. 

In 1867 Mr. B. e.xchanged his farm for a stock of 
merchandise, and for two years conducted the mer- 
cantile business at Belvidere. He then disposed of 
his stock and came to this county, leaving his family 
at that place. He arrived here in the fall of the year 
and remained until the following spring, when he re- 
turned to Belvidere and spent about a year in dis- 
]K)sing of his property, and then returned with his 
family to Midland City, this county. He remained 
in Midland, variously occupied, for about two years, 
and then moved to Clare, Clare County. In the 
latter place, he purchased some mill property, and 
for four years conducted the business until the mill 
was destroyed by fire. His loss was about $4,500, 
with no insurance. 

In 1880 Mr. Post came to Coleman, this county. 
He purchased a mill near Clare, Clare County, moved 
it here and commenced operations. Soon afterward 
he erected a store building, and placed a stock of 
goods in the same, and has lately disposed of the 
mill, store building and stock. 

Mr. Post was united in marriage Aug. 30, 1856, to 
Miss Fannie M., daughter of Redding and pAinice 



(Scott) Gleason. Her father was born in Steuben 
Co., N. Y., June 25, 181 2, and died Sept 12, 1865. 
He was of Dutch descent. The mother was born 
May 22, 18 1 9, in Vermont, and is living with her 
daughter Alice, in Clare, Clare County. There were 
seven children in her parents' family, all of whom 
grew to maturity except one who died in infancy. 
Fannie M., wife of Mr. Post, was lioni Jan. 7-, 1839. 

Mr. Post has 120 acres of hind near Buttonville, 
on which he has 30 acres cleared and 25 improved. 
He also owns 200 acres of land in the vicinity of 
Coleman. His son, Floyd Lewellyn, is a full partner 
with his father, which relation has existed ever since 
he became of age. 

Mr. and Mrs. Post have had three children born 
to them, all in Belvidere, N. Y., one of whom is 
deceased The living are: Floyd L., born April 11, 
1857; Ada May, born July 15, 1861 ; Florence A., 
born Dec. 6, 185S, was married May 19, 1877, to 
Josiah Horning, and departed this life Jan. 29, 1879. 

Politically, Mr. Post is a Republican, and is at 
present a Justice of the Peace. Mrs. Post is an 
active, working member of the Episcopal Church. 



^ 



A 



¥, 






gi^lg^SC oseph A. Morrison, manufacturer of shin- 

ll ^all ii" glcSi P'^'l '"i^d tub staves and heads, in 

ll©'''^^ Geneva Township, was born in Armstrong 

iM> ^°'' ^''■' ^^^- -^' '844. His parents, Robeit 

■|r and Jane (Hill) Morrison, were respectively of 

y Scotch and Irish descent, and were natives of 

New Bethlehem, Armstrong Co., Pa. They also 

died there, the demise of the mother occurring about 

the year 1857, that of the father in 1850. 

Mr. Morrison, in his first contest with the world, 
which he commenced at the age of 13 years, engaged 
as a farm laborer by the month, and spent about a 
year in that capacity. He enlisted Aug. 28, 1861, 
soon after the disaster of the first battle of Bull 
Run, enrolling in Co. C, 105th Pa. Vol. Inf., Col. 
McKnight, his regiment being assigned to the divis- 
ion of Gens. Heintzelman and Kearney and attached 
to the Third Army Corps. Mr. Morrison was in 
active service throughout the entire Peninsular cam- 
paign under Gen. McClellan. At the battle of Wil- 
liamsburg he received a slight bayonet wound while 
sustaining a charge from the enemy in ambush be- 



t 
I 



^^^^4- 






<^il!i:^:titiv>- 



r*? 



d- 






'X-> 



-•<#= 





II 



■I 










,#^ 





tamm 



^lyia 




(b 



> 



>5 



V 

> 

:) 



^ 
<> 




MIDLAND COUNTY. 



hind a fence. He was in the second battle of Bull 
Run, and went thence to the hospital at Point Look- 
out, Md., where he spent a month struggling with 
typhoid fever. He went thence to the convalescent 
camp at Alexandria, and was discharged on the sur- 
geon's certificate. He was mustered out Feb. ii, 
1863, and returned to his friends at New Bethlehem. 
After recovery he attended school one year at an 
academy at Glade Run. He next entered into a 
])artnership witli a man named John Shaddock, in 
the draying business, in which he was interested 
about eighteen months. On the termination of that 
relation he engaged in transporting oil from Oil City 
to Pittsburg, and after a year sold his interest to his 
partner. He next engaged in drilling oil-wells, which 
he followed in Pennsylvania two years ; after this 
he went to the oil regions of Canada and was simi- 
larly interested there one year. His next change of 
base was to Detroit, where he entered into a contract 
to get out 150 cords of last timber, at $4 per cord. 
He came to the Saginaw Valley to fulfill the obliga- 
tions of his contract, and has since remained chiefly 
in the territory included under that name. About 
1867 he bought a wood lot some three miles north- 
east of Midland, and set himself to the task of con- 
verting it into a farm; but the stumps appeared too 
formidable for the short period allotted to man, and 
after spending one summer in tlie pursuit of his 
project, he returned to Saginaw and followed the 
business of a drajman one summer. He then came 
back to Midland and formed a partnership with a 
Mr. Fletcher, and built a shingle mill, but the enter- 
prise was not feasible, and he disposed of his interest 
to his partner. He then engaged to manage a mill 
above Freeland, where he operated one season, 
at the termination of which he went to Freeland and 
spent two years in the shingle business, getting out 
that commodity by the thousand. He went thence 
to Sanders' Point, Delta Co., Upper Peninsula, where 
he spent two years running a mill in the interests of 
Whitney Bros., of Cincinnati. He returned to Free- 
land and managed a mill there about one year, when 
it was destroyed by fire. He went next to Averill 
and rented a mill, which he devoted to shingle man- 
ufacture, and operated a year, going thence to 
Loomis, where he engaged by the day, in the shingle 
business, and remained two years. 

He came to his present location in 1877. The 
first year he ran a shingle-mill on shares, and during 




the two years following he was interested in lumber- 
ing. In 1880 he established the business which he 
has since prosecuted with satisfactory results, 
although two years after the purchase of his mill 
his property was burned without insurance. He 
immediately rebuilt his works, and has been prosper- 
ously engaged since. He has owned a fine farm of 
So acres, with 60 acres under cultivation. On this 
he resided one year and sold it in 1883, The aggre- 
gate of his business interests is about $100 per day. 

Mr. Morrison was married in August, 1865, to 
Ellen Foote. She was born May 18, 1843, at Can- 
ton, N. Y., and is the daughter of Mitchell and 
Margaret (De Bar) Foote. Her father was a soldier 
of the Union army, and died June 5, 1865. He 
was made a prisoner and was confined in Libby 
Prison three months, was released on parole, and 
returned home, but died before he was exchanged. 
Her mother is 78 years old, and lives at Canton, St. 
Lawrence Co., N. Y. Nellie May, born Feb. 8, 
1869, and Harrison Allen, born April r, 1874, are 
the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Morrison. 
The latter died in 1876. 

Mr. Morrison belongs to the National Greenback 
party, and has officiated one term as Town Clerk. 



— -'^^^i"^^'v/>^ 



'tlyil'. xl. I.I 



e 



ohn A. Whitman, farmer, section i, Inger- 
'^^ soil Township, is a son of John and Dor. 

'■O ' 



cas (Davis) Whitman, natives of New 




®:^^^^ 



Hampshire, who lived 30 years in Rutland Co. 
Vt., then in Genesee Co., N. Y., Livingston 
County, same State, Saginaw County, this State, 
five years, and finally IngersoU Township, this county, 
where they died, — the former in April, 1865, and the 
latter in the fall of 1862. 

Of their family of five sons and three daughters, 
John A., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest son, 
being born Jan. 18, T814, in the township of Tin- 
mouth, Rutland Co., Vt. On arriving at 21 years of 
age he went to Crawford Co., Pa.; three years after- 
ward to New York State, and finally to Michigan. 
On coming to Saginaw County he followed land- 
clearing for five years; cleared 100 acres for Jis. 
Fracier, then known as the Bloomfield farm, now 
owned by A. B. Payn ; then he purchased a tract of 
600 acres, in Midland and Saginaw Counties, settled 






••f^• 



^? 




«34 



^^89- 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-#^c®vl 



) 






V 



in this county, in Ingersoll Township, on the Titta- 
bawassee River, building a log house and commen- 
cing to clear his land. This was in 1844. In 1872 
he built the house which he now occupies. He has 
since disposed of all his land but 250 acres, 200 of 
which he h.as in a fine state of cultivation. He 
keeps about 300 head of sheep, 10 head of cattle 
and seven head of horses. Mr. Whitman was the 
first settler in Ingersoll Township and the first per- 
manent settler in Midland County. His eldest 
daughter, Jane, who is now the wife of Joseph Bar- 
ton, of Mt. Haley Township, was the second white 
child born in Midland County, and the first in Inger- 
soll Township. 

Mr. Whitman was first married in Livingston Co., 
N. Y., in June, 1833, to Lucinda Cogswell, a native 
of that State, and they had four children, namely : 
John, James, Mary and Jane. John died when 
about 14 years old. Mrs. W. died in 1848, and Mr. 
W. was again married, June, 1850, in Saginaw 
County, to Joanna Moran, a native of Waterford, 
Ireland, and by this marriage there have been nine 
children, seven of whom are living, viz.; George W., 
Daniel W., Ellen, Ellis, Frank, John and Laura. 
The two deceased were named John and Kate. 

Mr. Whitman has held the office of Township 
Treasurer, in Saginaw County, for five years. Justice 
of the Peace, in this county, before the township of 
Ingersoll was organized, six years, and was the first 
Treasurer of the county, being appointed at its or- 
ganization by the County Board. Also, before the 
county was organized, he was Highway Commissioi:er 
two years, and has been School Director several 
years. With reference to national issues he is a Re- 
publican. 

The portrait of Mr. Whitman may be found on 
another [lage of this work. 



^Sf'i.J'ial Roekwood, deceased, was a resident 
PSM of Midland Township from 1874 until his 
His parents, Reuben and Polly 



Ig^ ' death 



Roekwood, were natives of the Bay .Slate. 
He was born in Erie Co.,N. Y., March i, 1820 
and lived in his native State, following the vo- 
cation of agriculture, until March, 1867, when he 
came with his family lo Saginaw Co., Mich., and 
bought 80 acres of land at Freeland, which he sold 



seven years afterward and, in the spring of 1874, 
came to Midland County and bought 40 acres in 
Midland Township. Here he lived until his death, 
which occurred Feb. 19, 1884. He was an active 
temperance worker and a worthy citizen. 

He was married in Erie Co., N. Y., May 25, 1856, 
to Emily, daughter of Orin and Rowena (Ross) Bab- 
cock, parents natives respectively of Otsego Co., 
N. Y., and Massachusetts. She was born in Erie 
Co., N. Y., May 27, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. R. had 
three children, viz.: Eliza R., Frank H. and Emma 
A. The first named married Milton M. Boies, whose 
sketch is given elsewhere in this Album. Mrs. R. 
is a member of the Baptist Church. 



-13= 

ifWdfiM. M. V. Chambers, farmer on section 
^-aaL 34, Hope Township, was the first male 



white born in the city of Milwaukee, 
-Jlfs^^ ^Vis. He was born Nov. 2, 1843, the son of 

M/"' Robert and Eliza Ann (Stevens) Chambers. 

t Mr. Chambers, Sr., was of English and German 
descent, was born near Hamilton, Ont., and was a 
pioneer in the State of Wisconsin. He owned 80 
acres in Kilbourn Township, now the heart of the 
city of Milwaukee; and after selling this, bought a 
farm ten miles north of the Cream City, on the 
Green Bay road. He shortly sold this, and bought a 
place near Sheboygan, where he lived eight years. 
He then came to St Clair Co., Mich., where he cul- 
tivated five or six years a farm rented of a widow 
by the name of House, before his death, at the age 
of 72. His wife was 62 years old at her death, in 

1875' 
The subject of this biograhy left home in his 13th 

year, and commenced to earn his own livelihood, 

working at whatever employment offered. He came 

to Saginaw in 1857, and was a fireman on a river 

steamer for three years, then engineer two years. 

Nov. 24, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 28th Bat. 
Mich. Vol. Inf., which was incorporated with the 
27 th, under Col. Fox. The regimer.t was assigned 
to the 9th Army Corps, and contained two of Mr. 
Chamber's brothers, Joseph and Robert. He was 
discharged at Ypsilanti, on account of disability, in 
March, 1863, betbre his command left for the front. 

Coming to Edenville, this county, the following 



»^ 






c 



ca: 













®:^^^#^ 



■^T^<:^D!l^nni>^ ^5€^^ 




©■?i^tf^« 



vC:llIl^DIlr^-? 



() 



>^ 



O 



'O 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



autumn, he engaged in lumbering in the winter and 
driving logs in the summer. He bought his present 
farm of 38 acres in 1872, and moved upon it in 
1878. He has worked in the woods every winter 
but two. Previous to making hi-s location here, he 
owned 40 acres in Edenville Township, which he 
sold. He bought 80 acres in Minnesota, but sold 
this also, and returned to Midland County. He also 
made a start in Gladwin County. 

He was married March 9, 1878, to Miss Almira 
Holden, daughter of Augustus Holden, who resides 
seven miles east of Clio, Genesee County. Mrs. 
Chambers was born March 9, 1853, and is the mother 
of one daughter, Laura Ann, born June 20, 1879, in 
Hope Township. 

Mr. C. is politically a Greenbacker. 



"leiieiz/®^^— i| 



-^^yzrawn. 




-^ 



«/9 



r 



t" ames Odell, farmer, section 7, Jerome Town- 
^ ship, was born April 16, 1844, in Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., and is the son of Palmer and 
JemimaOdell. The father was drowned in 1855 
in Jack Rift's River, Onondaga County. The 
mother is living at Fremont, Steuben Co., N. Y. 
She married a second time, and is again widowed. 
Both parents were natives of the Empire State, and 
the mother is of mixed German and English descent. 
The family included si.x children, all of whom are 
dead but two. Susan Ann (Odell) Monroe, sister of 
Mr. Odell, survives. Jacob, a brother, became a 
soldier for the Union, and was twice wounded at the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing, and was taken to 
'Mound City Hospital, where he died. 

Mr. Odell came to the township of Orrin, Branch 
Co., Mich., when he was 17 years old, and has since 
been a residentof the Peninsular State, with the excep- 
tion of one year, which he spent in Onondaga County. 
While he remained in Branch County he labored by 
the month as a farm assistant. In the spring of 
1869 he came to Lansing and spent a summer in 
Ingham County. In the fall of that year he bought 
80 acres of land in Jerome Township, three miles 
from his present location, for whicli he paid one- 
fourth of the purchase money. He retained its 
ownership about five years, sold out and bought 10 
acres, for which he paid and entered upon the work 




80 acres of Charles Cochrane, — with the privilege of 
paying for it at his own convenience, — on ivhich he 
remained about 15 months. He decided tliat he 
should not be able to pay for it, and he returned to 
his lo-acre farm, to whicir he has added eight acres 
additional. He also owns 80 acres on the same sec- 
tion, but not adjoining. Fifteen acres of his property 
is in tillage. Mr. Odell was married Dec. 25, 1869, 
at Midland, to Charlotte M. Lavier. She was born 
Jan. i8, 1854, in Canada, and is the daughter of 
Charles and Philadelphia (Parks) Lavier. Her 
mother was of English descent, and died in 1873, in 
Jerome Township. Her father is residing in Cana- 
da. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Odell are 
recorded as follows: Reuben J., born Jan. 24, 1871 ; 
an infant, born June 10, 1872, died the same day ; 
Mabel J., June 23, 1873; Cora A., May 4, 1876; 
Clare M., July 7, 1877 ; Pearl VV., Nov. 21, 1881. 

Mr. Odell is a Republican in political sentiment 
and action, and has been in public life to considera- 
ble extent in the township where he resides. He has 
served two years as Justice of the Peace, and has 
filled the school offices. He is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 



(5) 



--»5- 







avid E. Thurber, farmer, sec' ion 9, Inger- 
soil Township, is a son of Calvin and 
■'i.^Jiy ^ Frances (Craig) Thurber, natives of Can- 
'^^)<v ada, and was born in the county of Megantic, 



0) 



Lower Canada, Feb. 28, 1844; in 1864 he came 



of improvement. The following spring he bought 



X 

4 to Monroe Co., Mich., and in a short time he 
went to Columbiana Co., Ohio, where he remained 
about si.\ months. After spending a short time in 
Canada, he returned to Michigan, resided in Wash- 
tenaw County almost six months, in Ingham County 
about a year and a half, in Saginaw County a year 
and a half, and in the fall of 1868 he came to Mid- 
land County, resided in Midland City about three 
years, being engaged for a year and a half by Geo. 
F. Keep as a foreman on his farm, and in lumbering. 

In 1873 he purchased 80 acres of land in Ingersoll 
Township, where he has since resided, and has now 
about 55 acres under cultivation. In political mat- 
ters Mr. T. is a " National," and in his community 
he has been honored with the office of Township 
Treasurer one year. 

Mr. Thurber was married in Mason, Ingham Co., 



•S^ 






|)^fi^^#®^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




Mich., to Miss Rebecca J., daugliter of William and 
Eleanor (Wilson) Horton. Slie was born in Dela- 
ware Co., N. Y., July IS, 1S43. To Mr. and Mrs. 
T. have been born three children, naiii^jly : Calvin 
E., Laney B. and David H. 



■ ■>. 



->5-4 



w-c J>-5<- 



'■ f^P f^f'j ichael E. Kane, farmer, section 9, Mid- 
'■iiiiliMaf land Township, is a son of Lawrence and 
; .'^■.' "'^ Esther (Fox) Kane, parents natives re- 
y ^^'\ speclively of Ireland and Canada. He was 
'•'^ also born in Canada, Ai)nl 29, 185 1, went to 
common school and worked on the farm until 
187 I ; then spent three summers in Washtenaw Co., 
Mich., working in the woods during the winter; next, 
he bought a farm in Lenawee Co., Mich., where he 
lived until the spring of 187 8, when he exchanged 
this farm for 90 acres of land where he now resides, 
and has 20 acres in cultivation. 

Mr. Kane was married in Flint, Genesee Co., 
Mich.. July i, 1879, to Miss Eliza, daughter of Alson 
and Alice (Butler) Sanborn, ihe latter natives of 
Canada: she is a native of the Peninsular State. 
Mr. and Mrs. K. are members of the Catholic 
Church. They have had three children, namely : 
Lawrence, Michael, who died when about a year 
and a half old, and James Alson. 

On national questions Mr. Kane holds the views 
of the "National" party. 

^"ohn Swanton, farmer, section i2,Edenville 
Ijl^ Township, was born Feb. 24, 1842, in To- 
'"^^^*^ ronto, Can., and is the son of John and 
Elizabeth Ann (Aikens) Swanton. His father 
was born in Ireland, in 1S07, and died in Pick- 
ering, Can., in March, 1847. His mother was 
born in Ireland, and is now the wife of Thomas 
Gransden, Sr., of Edenville Townshii). The parents 
emigrated to Canada in 1819, and the father made 
the first brick used in the construction of tlie cele- 
brated Gore bank building at Toronto. 

On the death of his father, Mr. Swanton became 
an inmate of the family of Augustus Simons, with 
whom he remained until he was 11 years old. They 
removed to Erie Co., Pa. Mr. Simons was a man of 
unsteady habits and finally abandoned his family. 




and Mr. Swanton was placed under the charge of a 
farmer in Erie County, named John Melhorn, with 
whom he resided until the age of 18 years. In i860 
he went to the township of Walsingham, Can., where 
he worked one year as a farm assistant. At the end 
of that time he returned to Pennsylvania and spent 
several months of the year 1862, in the employ of 
Mr. Melhorn, with whom he had previously resided. 

He became interested in the issues of the civil war 
and determined to risk the fate of a soldier. He en- 
listed .\ug. 15, 1862, in Co. A, i4Sth Pa. Vol. Inf., 
Col. H. L. Ihown, and was mustered out of the 
United States service Aug. 9, 1865, at Baltimore. 
The command was assigned to the Second Army 
Corps, First Division, and was attached to several 
brigades. It was a part of the Army of the Potomac, 
during the engagements at Antietam, Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the fall of 1863 
Mr. Swanton was wounded near Bristow Station, dur- 
ing the retreat from the Rapidan. He became dis- 
abled by a wound in the hip from a fragment of shell, 
was captured by the rebels and sent to Belle Isle. 
After five months he effected his escape by strategy, 
and made his way to Annapolis. He rejoined his 
command at Cold Harbor and continued in active 
service until June 16, 1864, when he was wounded 
by a grape shot, in an attempt to capture a rebel 
battery near Petersburg. He was sent to Lincoln 
Hospital at Washington, D. C, and two months later 
was transferred to the Haddington Hospital at Phil- 
adelphia. In the spring of I S65 he was transferred 
to the Invalid Corps, and sent on duty to Jarvis 
Hospital, Baltimore, where he was mustered out of 
service. 

He returned to Erie, Pa., and went to work for his 
former em[iloyer, Mr. Melhorn, with whom he re- 
mained until April, iS67,when he came to Edenville 
Township, in Midland County. He worked during 
the summer on a farm and through the winter in the 
lumber woods. He returned to Fairview Township, 
Erie Co., Pa., and was married June 9, 1868, to 
Catherine, daughter of Christian and Catherine (Fry) 
Brown, a native of Wirtemburg, Germany. Her par- 
ents were also born and died there, and at the age 
of 13 years, accompanied by a sister three years 
older, she emigrated to America, and joined two 
brothers in Erie Co., Pa. They landed in the city of 
New York, in 1S57. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 



^ 






V. 






sy 

^ 

('.' 



^^ — cwi<:;t]||:^tlti;>i^ 



_N:rT-. ,-'T"-»\<'T^_ 



l^^f 





^^^^ 



Z^^^^iST 



■ry 



Tdm'Mh^T 



>s^~^W 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




f 



Swanton were born in Edenville Township, as fol- 
lows: Ida May, Aug. 7, 1869; Alma Edith, July 12, 
1872; Otto C. B., May 12, 1878; Katie Mercedes, 
July 14, 1881. 

Mr. Swanton has served his townsmen five terms 
as Township ("lerk. 



-f 



=f- 



) 



1 

I 



^ 



I 



'.[iKffll i ra B. Cronkright, farmer, resident on sec- 
•^i|^3i t'on 26, Jasper Township, was born Jan. 12 
;V|^T 1841, in Midland Township. He is the 
C a son of Charles and Lydia (Snyder) Cronkright^ 
/^ and is the second white male born in Midland 
County. He grew to manhood on the Michigan 
frontier, his first e.xperiences in life being those of the 
l)iuneers. He remained with his parents until he was 
27 years old, working on the farm summers and in 
the lumber woods winters, after he attained suitable 
age and strength. After tlial he operated as a lum- 
berman until his marriage, which took ])Iace Nov. 9, 
1867, in Homer Townshij), Midland County. His 
wife was Adriana V. Adams, daughter of Ransom 
and Sarah J. (Westbrook) Adams, formerly residents 
of Oakland Co., Ont., wlierc the daughter was born 
Jan. 30, 184S. She came to Michigan when she was 
13 years old witii her grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cronkright have had eight children, six of whom are 
living: William, Minnie A., Edna A., R. B. Hayes, 
Clyde E. and Eftie P. The deceased were named 
Edward and Arthur. Mr. C. is a Republican in 
political faith and has held various local offices. 



^»hJh*^ 




oseph C. Townseud, Midland. One of the 
most familiar faces in Midland County is 
that of the man whose name heads this 
sketch. From Saginaw to tlie northern frontier 
everyone knows " Uncle Jo," as he is famil- 
iarly called. Reared within the corporation of 
Midland, and living here continuously for more than 
30 years, he is possessed of an intimate acquaint- 
ance with the growth and prosperity of the county 
he loves so well. The historian is under special ob- 
ligations to him for information upon many subjects. 
He is the youngest of 1 1 children, of whom three 
survive. His parents, Joseph and Polly (Cronkright) 



Townsend, emigrated from Mt. Morris, Livingston 
Co., N. Y., in 1842, and after residing a short time in 
Saginaw County, settled near the "Forks," now Mid- 
land City. Joseph was a lad 12 years old when 
his parents came to Midland, and his schooling in 
New York to that date was very limited. When 
Henry Ashman taught the first school in the county 
Joseph was one of the first scholars, nearly all of 
whom were Indians. In fact, for several years after 
coming here, Indian children were the only play- 
mates the Townsend children had. Together they 
hunted, fished, swam the rivers and played hide-and- 
seek among the bushes; but a mere handful of the 
race yet remain that were the friends of his boyhood. 
Joseph w^as a great lover of the chase, and a number 
of his exploits are related in another part of this 
work. 

As he grew to manhood, he wooed and married 
Miss Evaline Patterson, the daughter of Henry W. 
and Harriet Patterson. The former is one of the 
most influential and worthy citizens of Midland, who 
still resides near his daughter, and is fully satisfied 
with Midland County as a place in which to spend 
his declining years. The marriage of Mr. Townsend 
and Miss Patterson was celebrated in 1856, by Chas. 
Fitzhugh, Esq., who for many years was a resident 
of the township and one of its first settlers. Joseph 
and his wife have lived happily together for more 
than a quarter of a century, and have been the par- 
ents of II children. Harriet, the eldest daughter, 
wedded George Pick, and now resides at To.iawanda, 
N. Y. lantha is the wife of Albert Sidelinker, and 
Angelina married John Bancroft. Both the latter 
live in Midland City, and the younger children, 
Chester, Sophronia and Geneva, are with their par- 
ents, thus forming an almost unbroken family circle. 
Five children are buried beneath tlie trees in the 
village cemetery, which is thus made the dearest 
spot on earth to the parents who loved them so 
dearly. 

Joseph is a radical Republican, but the Greenback 
and Independent parties have maintained him in 
office for a long term of years. Gov. Jerome ap- 
pointed him a Notary Public, and Gov. Begole, 
County Agent of the State Board of Charities, which 
office he has filled acceptably for many years. He 
has been for 14 years Superintendent of the Poor, 
and County Coroner for 12 years. 



i^. 



I 










^)( ^ f|s»- 



^m^m^ 



.^^^i- 



-S'-^' 



-<§S5^ 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 






e 



<^. 



:« 






i^ 



Owning a dray line, and having a comfortable 
home in the suburbs, his days are passed in compar- 
ative ease and comfort. He is always the same 
jolly, good fellow, an honest man, a courteous neigh- 
bor and an upright Mason. 




\ illiam E. Hewitt, lumberman on section 
a^ L 8, Larkin Township, is a son ot Benjamm 
Jj^^n ' ^' ^"*^ Sarali (Westcott) Hewitt, natives 
^' of Vermont, and was born in that State 
'^'' Aug. i8, 185 1. He came to Midland 
County in 187 i, and has since made his home 
here. In October, 1883, he purchased a shingle mill 
on section 8, Larkin, where he is now doing a thriv- 
ing business. He emplnys seven men, and his mill 
has a capacity for turnitg out 25,000 shingles daily. 
He was first married in TJncoln Township, March 
8, 1873. to Miss Christina J. Howe, daughter of 
James Howe, of Larkin Township. Mrs. H. died 
Oct. 24, 1883, leaving two daughters, Sarah E. and 
Phebe £.;_ and Feb. 22, 1884, he chose for his 
present wife Miss Viola Howe, a sister of the first 
Mrs. Hewitt. Politically, Mr. H. is a Democrat. 



^+- 



section 27, Hope 




jV^A Mi illiam Mills, farmer, 

j ['•-^VO'! ^ Township, was born Sept. 29, 1851, in 

'' Ontario, Can., and is the son of Samuel 

' and Sarah (Filmore) Mills. The parents are 

of English descent and were born' in Nova 

Scotia. The family moved to Ontario in 1849, 

where they remained until their removal to Midland 

County in i86r. 

Mr. Mills, of this sketch, was si.K years old when 
he made his first acquaintance with the Peninsular 
State, and grew to man's estate in the township in 
which he now resides. He is the proprietor of 70 
acres of land, which includes 30 acres inipioved and 
cultivated. 

His marriage to Annie Oslrander occurred June 11, 
1877. She was born March 8, 1859, in St. Clair Co., 
Mich., and is the daughter of John C. and Anna 
(Pratt) Ostrander. The mother of Mrs. Mills died 




before she was three years old, and, her father marry- 
ing soon afterward, she grew to womanhood under 
the care of a step-mother. Following is the record 
of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mills : Ernest 
W., Nov. 19, 1878; Estella R., Nov. 10, 1880; Clay- 
ton D. \V., .\iig. 2, 1883. They were born in Hope 
Township. 

Mr. Mills has been Township Clerk two terms, 
and is now discharging the duties of Treasurer for 
the second time. 

j'f S^Jjenjamin G. Beden, farmer, section 25^ 

^iEi^iJ^- Iniiersoll Township, is a son of Sinithfield 

^j'jg^ "^ and Rebecca (Melvin) Beden, the former 

'Ito '^ native of the Green Mountain State and 

the latter of the old Granite State. Their 

residence was first in Wyoming Co., N. Y., 

then in Wayne County, same State, and finally, in 

1836, they emigrated to Lapeer Co., Mich., where he 

died Feb. 26, 1853. She afterward lived with her 

daughter in Genesee Co., Mich., and died Feb. 10, 

1874. In their family were ten children : Walter M., 

Calista, Diana, Benjamin G., William, Seth N., 

Amanda, Laura, William (2d) and Susan. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne Co. 
N. Y., Feb. iS, 1822; was 14 years old when his 
parents came to Lapeer Co., Mich., and lived at 
home witli them until 20 years of age, assisting on 
the farm and attending school. At the age men- 
tioned he started out in the world for himself, at first 
working by the month for a few years. He then 
learned the cooper's trade, which he followed about 
two years ; then for about 16 months he worked at 
farming and as clerk in a store. Then he purchased 
a farm in Hadley, Lapeer Co., Mich., where he lived 
from 1848 to 1858; he then sold out, and in the fol- 
lowing February he came to Midland County and 
settled on 120 acres of land in Ingersoll Township, 
which he had bought the previous year. He has 
since added 40 acres by purchase, and he now has 
about 60 acres in a good state of cultivation. 

Mr. Beden has been Justice of the Peace si.x years. 
Deputy Clerk several years and Township Treasurer 
one year. He was once elected Coroner, but did not 
accept the office. In his political views he is a Re- 
publican. In 1873 he joined the Patrons of Hus- 
bandr)\ 



VS 



9 



( 



t 



^ 



®))^^|- 



-:^^^i^ 



^ 



<^n 



:^ni]f>^^9- 



4^^ 




\^}S^^^^^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^^efv^ 



239 



At the time of the Revolutionary war, his grand- 
mother was met by some American soldiers who de- 
sired some flannel for making cartridges. She gave 
them her petticoat, which they hung on a pole, and 

X around this they cheered and vowed they would die 

^^ rather than suffer defeat. 

Mr. Beden was married in Oakland Co., Mich., 
March 16, 1853, to Harriet P., daughter of Harvey 
C. and Melinda (Compton) Mills. (See sketch of 
David A. Mills.) Mrs. Beden was born in Pose, 
Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct. 12, 1836. They iiave one 
child, Rodney A., born April 24, 1858. 




V 



^ 



(l> 



I 




i'homas Moore, farmer and proprietor of 
L^ I Moore's Hotel at Edenville, was born Aug. 
^ 18, 1839, in Dundas C"o., Can., and is the 
^d^ son of Michael and Alice (O'Connor) Moore. 
Tlie parents were natives of Ireland, and are 
deceased. They emigrated to Canada respect- 
ively in 1828 and in 1830. 

Mr. Moore spent the first 14 years of his life on a 
farm and at school. He had a natural taste and 
aptitude for books, and at the age of 14 years he be- 
gan teaching in the Dominion. At the age of 17 
years he went to Syracuse, N. Y., and spent some 
time as a farm laborer. He then entered a drug 
store, in which he operated four years, when he re- 
turned to Canada and engaged in rafting one season 
on the river Trent. The season following he spent 
in assisting his father on the farm, when he returned 
to his former employment as a raftsman. In the fall 
of that year (1862) he came to Ann Arbor, and after 
working there three months as a farm assistant, he 
went to East Saginaw with the intention of engaging 
in lumbering; but happening to meet his former em- 
ployer from Syracuse he entered his store at Saginaw 
as a salesman. He served in that capacity three years. 
On terminating that connection he engaged ni hand- 
ling dairy products, and in si.x months netted $1,000. 
Associated with two partners, he purchased a mer- 
cantile establishment at Chesaning, Saginaw Co., 
Mich., and four months later sold his interest to his 
partners. He then engaged in hotel life at Chesan- 
ing, and conducted the Chesaning House one year. 



At the expiration of that time he came to Edenville, 
and engaged in the same business in which he has 
since continued, wi'.h the exception of six months. 
Eight years after establishing himself in the business, 
his hotel was destroyed by fire. At that time he had 
$3,200 in cash and a well-stocked farm of 200 acres. 
After the fire he felt disposed to try fortune in a more 
extended sphere, and went to Saginaw, where he 
bought the Franklin House. Six months later he 
had tested the abiding qualities of all his ready money 
and S400 besides, and found the climate not adapted 
to his abilities. He swallowed his losses and ex- 
periences, and returned to his farm at Edenville. In 
one year he made $800, and built a part of the hotel 
he is now managing. He has continued in the same 
business ever since, with various degrees of success. 

He was married at Saginaw June 21, 1S64, to Caro- 
line E., daughter of .Mexander and Harriet N. (Bab- 
cock) Ladow. Her parents are natives of the State 
of New York, and are residing in Tama Co., Iowa. 
Her father is a minister of the Baptist Church. Mrs. 
Moore was born Aug. 19, 1838, in Camden, Lorain 
Co., Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had one daugh- 
ter, — Georgiana, born Jan. 16, 1866, and died March 
16, 1872. 

Mr. Moore is a Democrat, and is serving his third 
term as Supervisor of Edenville Township. 



^imeon Kent, farmer, section 22, Midland 
1^ Township, is a son of James A. and 
Rachel (Crane) Kent, natives of New 
York State, who emigrated thence to Midland 
County, in 1S54, settling in Midland Town- 
ship, where ihey Iiave since resided. Of their 
five children, three grew up to maturity, namely: 
Harriet, Catherine and Simeon. The two deceased 
were Eliza J. and an infant. 

Simeon was born in Saginaw County, Oct. 21, 1840. 
In February, 1864, he enlisted in the cause of the 
Union, in the ist Mich. Cav., and while engaged in 
the battle of Winchester, ^'a., Sejjt. 19, 1864, he 
received a bullet wound in his right arm, which 
necessitated an amputation. He was discharged in 
June, 1865. Is now a member of the Dwight May 
Post, No. 69, G. A. R., and concerning political 
questions takes generally Republican views. 




% 



\^ 



9 

i 



11 




sniif^A^ 





<^llIlSlln^>: 



240 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



■<sr 



VS3S^ 



§^^^- 



) 



0< 



>5 



<> 



'^) 



rS^ 



Mr. Kent was married in Saginaw Co., Mich., 
/^ Sept. 12, 1869, to Sarah E., daughter of Wilham and 
S^ Amanda (Holt) Morrison, natives of Pennsylvania. 
\ Mrs. K. was born in Armstrong Co., Pa., Maj- i, 
J 1852. To Mr. and Mrs. Kent have been born five 
Y children, namely : James A., Amanda J., George L., 
Gertrude R. and Hattie I. 

— -^ ^^£ii ~ 




aniel Wilcox, farmer, section 28, Midland 
,.-. Township, is a son of Henry and Cath- 
kcTi ^ erine (Collins) Wilco.x, who were natives 
JPS" of the Empire State. 

He was born in Erie County, that State, 
Feb. 5, 1822, followed farming a portion of 
the time, and for 12 years was employed in a hotel 
and on the lakes as "berth-maker." Four months 
of the above period, however, were spent in Wiscon- 
sin. In the fall of 1852 he came to Midland 
County and purchased 80 acres of unimproved land 
where he has since resided. He is therefore one of 
the oldest pioneers of the county. He has sold si.x 
and a half acres of his first purchase, and of the re- 
mainder he has about 60 acres well improved. His 
is a fine farm. 

Mr. Wilcox was married in Buffalo, N. Y., to Mar- 
garet Derig, a native of Ireland, who came to 
America when a young child. 

Mr. W. has been School Assessor in his district. 
In politics he is a Reiniblican. Mrs. \\ . is a mem- 
ber of the Catholic Church. 



.ames Whitman, farmer and lumberman, 
section 9, Porter Township, was born in 
Saginaw Co., Mich., May 31, 1843, and is 
a son of John A. and Lucinda (Cogswell) 
^Vhitman. (See sketch.) The parents moved 
into Midland County when their son was but a 
year old, being among the first settlers in the county, 
locating in IngersoU Township, where he, the father, 
now resides. James' mother is deceased. 

The subject of this biographical notice remained 
at home until 2r, when he set out for himself, pur- 
chasing a piece of land in Homer Township, which 
he managed for a year and then lumbered one season 





for Horace Jerome, after which he merged into the 
lumber business with his father. Thus they operated 
together two years, furnishing railroad lumber and 
supplies. Then for some time he prosecuted a simi- 
lar business in comiiany with Mr. Gordon, of Mid- 
land, then in connection with the Saginaw Boom 
Company for about seven years. 

On leaving them, in the fall of 1880, he settled on 
a quarter of section 9, Porter Township, which tract 
he had purchased two years previously. Here he 
has improved 40 acres and built a good, large barn, 
a comfortable residence, etc. He is not married. 

Mr. W. is a Republican in his jx)litical principles, 
and has held the minor offices of his township. 



'ir^^:i=rts 



*t#rt-r5- 



^^i dwin N. Burton, farmer, section 12, Eden- 
^^K ville Township, was born June 20, rS37, 
??j^^° in Dexter, Me., and is the son of David 
j)^ and Emeline (Copeland) Burton. The parents 
i were born respectively in Maine and Massa- 
chusetts, and removed in 1851 to Dexter, 
Washtenaw Co., Mich. In 1854 the family went to 
East Saginaw and remained one winter, the father 
operating as foreman of a lumber camp in the em- 
ploy of one of the heaviest firms of Saginaw. In 
the spring of 1855 they settled in Midland County, 
where he completed the period of his minority. He 
obtained his education wholly in Maine and Wash- 
tenaw Co., Mich., and, after coming to Midland 
County, devoted his increasing strength to clearing 
and improving the homestead and contributing to 
the support of the family. 

When he was 22 years old he enlisted in Co. D, 
1 6th Mich. Vol. Inf., under Col. Stockton, of Flint. 
The date of his enrollment as a soldier in the 
service of the United States was Aug. t, 1S61. The 
regiment was assigned to Butterfield's Brigade, Fitz 
John Porter's Division, of the Army of the Potomac. 
Tlie first service of any importance in which Mr. 
Burton was engaged was the siege of Yorktown. 
During the Peninsular Campaign under Gen. Mc 
Ctellan, while the army was lying in the swamps of 
the Chickahominy River, he was seized with illness, 
and June 27, 1862, he was sent to the Highgee Hos- 
pital at Fortress Monroe. Three weeks later he was 
removed to Long Island (N. Y.) Hospital. He was 



'Slf\S^^^ 



t 






V^ 



A 



ca: 



( 



t 



-^4S^ 



^ 



<-^Dar^iinit> 







MIDLAND COU.VTY. 



r^^^^^ 



-4^5C(sVS 



-A 






>^ 



V 



1 



241 



discharged thence Oct. 20, 1862, on a surgeon's cer- 
tificate, by the orderof Gen. Brown. On leaving the 
hospital he made his way to Rochester, Oakland Co., 
Mich., where lie remained six weeks with his sister, 
being too weak to proceed further. At the end of 
that time his father came for him and removed him 
to his home. His disease was of a malarial charac- 
ter, contracted in the deadly miasmas which laid 
thousands of Northern soldiers under the sods of the 
valley in that murderous, fruitless waiting for move- 
ment, and which was more disastrous to the cause of 
the Union and resulted in a greater loss of life than 
active service on the field could have done. Three 
years elapsed before Mr. Burton recovered his nor- 
mal strength and endurance. He belongs to the 
type of politicians distinguished as "War Demo- 
crats," and has served his generation in many promi- 
nent and responsible positions. He has been Super- 
visor two terms, Treasurer five years, Clerk three 
years, and has been recently elected Justice of the 
Peace. 

Mr. Burton was married Nov. 8, 1868, to Mary M., 
daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (McConnell) 
Willis. Her father was born Nov. iS, 1816, in 
Ireland, and is yet resident in Edenville Township. 
Her mother was born Nov. 18,1833, in Canada, and 
died Oct. 14, 1863. Mrs. Burton was born April 3, 
1853, in Sparta, Elgin ("o.. Can. Following is the 
record of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Burton: 
Frank E., born Feb. i, 1870; Willis A., April 10, 
1 87 2, died Jan. 9, 1880; Bessie, March 20, 1874, 
died Jan. 11, 1880; Emeline A., March 5, 1876; 
Winfield Scott, Sept. 30, 1880. All the children 
were born in Edenville Township. Tliose deceased 
died within two days of each other, of diphtheria. 



I rancis L. O. Banks, farmer, section 27, 
-Midland Township, is a son of Wright and 
Ann (Brotherton) Banks, who were natives 
of Connecticut. He was born in Sherman, 
Fairfield Co., Conn., Aug. 31, 1830, coming to 
Oakland Co., Mich., with his parents when 11 
years of age. He attended the High School at Pon- 
tiac. At 18 years of age he began and worked out 
by the month for five years. In 185 1 he came to 
Midland County and settled on 43 acres of land in 




Midland Township, which he had bought three years 
previously, and where he has since resided. To the 
original purchase he has added 64 acres, and now 
has about 75 acres in a good state of cultivation. He 
has held the offices of School Director and Con- 
stable, and in regard to political questions he votes 
with the Republicans. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. 

Mr. Banks was married in Saginaw Co., Mich., 
March 16, 1854, to Miss Margaret E. Lire, a native 
of Massachusetts, and of Scotch parentage. They 
have had five children, viz.: Charles, Adelbert R., 
Clara F., Frederick and William U. Charles and 
Frederick are deceased. 




■»>«ec£r!S^S-«— tj^^ 



oel A. 



.^^^3OTSv 



,, _^, — — Brewer, farmer and lumberman, 
Sft^ resident on section 27, Homer Township, 
was born Aug. 4, 1844, in Allegany Co.. 
N. Y. His parents, Daniel and Julia A. (Bas- 
sett) Brewer, were natives of the State of New 
York, where the former still resides, aged 78 
years. The mother died in .Mlegany Co., N. Y., 
March 17, 1876. Their family comprised nine chil- 
dren, three of whom are deceased. 

Mr. Brewer is the eighth child of his parents in 
the order of birth, and is the fourth son. He is the 
only one of the family who has left his native State. 
He received a fair common-school education, and 
when he was 17 years old he went South in the em- 
ployment of the Government. He was present at 
four of the important battles of the Army of the 
Cumberland. He was at Nashville the day of Lin- 
coln's re-election, and heard a speech by Andrew 
Johnson. 

He returned to his liome in the State of New 
York, where he remained but a brief period, going 
thence to Pennsylvania, where he engaged as a mill 
assistant for some months. He returned home for a 
time and again went to Pennsylvania and interested 
himself in the chances of the oil regions. In 1867 
he went back to Allegany Co., N. Y., where, July 15 
of that year, he was married to Julia F., daughter of 
John and Sophia Wirt. Her paren?^ were natives 
of Canada, of French descent. They became resi- 
dents of the Empire State in early life, where they 
married and have since resided. The daughter was 



c< 



( 



eMs 



(T-A 



-^^^^^ 



^ 



<^^D!l^Dnf^ 



<ri_ 



s^?^ 





msiiiir^?^ 



rr 



■^ijfig^^ 



€# 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^m^^®vm 



'born June 21, 1849, near Rochester. The family re- 
moved in 185 1 to Allegany County. Grant S., born 
rjuly 4, 1868, and P'rank J., born May 18, 187 i, are 
the names of the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. 



^ Brewer. 



(Oj 




Mr. Brewer pursued tlie calliut; of a fnrmcr in 
Allegany County until the fall of 18S0, wlien he 
came to Midland Co., Mich., spent one winter as a 
lumberman, and then purchased his present property 
of 160 acres, which was all in heavy timber. He 
has engaged in lumbering every season, and em- 
ployed the remainder of his time in iminoving his 
land. He has cleared and placed 20 acres under 
tillage. Mr. Brewet is a Republican in political 
sentiment. He lias just entered uix)n his second 
term as Supervisor, and is also Justice of the Peace. 
Tlie fiimily attend the Methodist F,|)iscopal Church. 



feugh MeWilliams, fanner on section 22, 
^» Hope Township, was born in (ilasgow, Scot- 
land, Aug. 24, 1832, the son of William and 
Jane (Kissick) MeWilliams, natives of Ireland. 
The father emigrated with his family to Mon- 
s, Ireal, Can., in 1844. After a six-months' stay there, 
employed at his trade of stone mason, he went to 
Kingston, where he was similady employed a little 
over a year. He was then accidentally drowned in 
the Napanee River. Hugh remained with his mother 
until her death, seven years later, and remained in 
the vicinity two years longer, working at lumbering, 
fanning, etc. 

He then came to this State, and after stopping a 
few months with William McCrary, in Ingham 
County, he came on to Midland County. Here he 
worked a winter in the woods, next spent a summer 
in a saw-mill at Saginaw, and then settled perma- 
nently in Midland County. He helped Mr. McCrary 
build his first log shanty, and of him he l)ought 50 
acres of land, about i860. He has now 40 acres of 
this in cultivation, and has a good barn and a small 
frame house. 

March 23, 1862, he married Miss Milly J. Weaver, 
daughter of Zenas and Eli/abeth (Sears) Weaver. 
Mr. W., one of the jiioneers of Hope Township, 
died in Roscommon County, March 30, i88i,and 
was brought to Hope Townshi)) for burial. Mrs. Mc- 



h 



Williams was born Sept. 15, 1845, in Norwich, Can., 
and has been the mother of seven children, six of 
whom are living. Following is the record : Ada M., 
born May 2, 187 i ; Eva Lizzie, Oct. 27, 1874; Mary 
Alta, Jan. 23, 1876; Thelbert H., March 21, 1878; 
I-ydia Ann, Dec. 20, 1879; Sadie R., Sept. 9, 1881 ; 
Willie F., Feb. 24, 1883. All were liorn in Hope 
Township. 

Mr. McW. has been Justice of the Pe.ice two 
terms, and votes the Republican ticket. 



«s-- 



srthur Hickling, farmer, section 14, Mid- 
ji^^^k land Township, is a son of John and Ma- 

i^ tilda (Wooaj Hickling, natives of England, 

Jr where they were reared, lived, married, labored 
(" and died. 

.\rthur was born in Nottingham, England, 
April 28, 1833. He lived in that country until 1861, 
engaged in the butcher business, and then came to 
Canada. He settled in Guelph, Wellington Co., 
Out., where he followed the same business at which 
he was engaged in the old country. 

In the summer of 1872 Mr. Hickling came to Mid- 
land City, this county, and opened a meat market, 
which business he continued for three years, when 
he was burned" out. He immediately rebuilt and 
followed the same business until May, 28, 1876, 
when the same destroying element swept away his 
property for the second time. Not discouraged, and 
possessing an abundance of pluck, he again re -built 
and continued in the same business until June, 1877, 
when he disposed of it. 

Mr. Hickling has been twice married. His first 
union was with Miss Anna .\daiiis, a native of Eng- 
land, and occurred in that country. One son, John 
A., born iMarch 28, 1861, was the only offspring of 
this marriage. His second marriage was to Mrs. 
Margaret Warner (//(V Highfield), daughter of George 
and Martha (Foster) Highfield, and was solemnized 
June 16, 1877, in Midland City, this county. She 
was born in Lancashire, England, in 1832. Her 
first marriage was to Mr. Samuel Warner, who died 
Feb II, 1875. She is the owner of 80 acres of land, 
on which the family reside, and has 50 acres of the 
same under a good state of cultivation. Religiously, 




% 



^ 



A 



^< 



( ' 



^<^ii!i^nn<> 



.^^ 



'--^^f 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



s3i 



'1^ 









:^ 



s/ 



') 









she is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
H. is a Democrat in politics, and has held the posi- 
tion of Fire Police in Midland City for about a year, 
as well as a local position in his township. 



■•<-^^4##'^- 



^Jj-Uc'>^ 



Kp (5;0;, loyd L. Post, attorney, Coleman, was born 

ij'KSj'lp April 1 1, 1857, at Belvidere, Allegany Co., 

l''^'^^ N. Y., and is a son of John and Fannie M. 

m" (Gleason) Post, both of whom are yet livinij;. 

^1^ In their family were one son and two daugh- 
ters, one of the latter being now deceased. 

Mr. Post had a common-school education, read law 
in the office of Wheaton & Perry at Clare, Mich., for 
two years, and also at home, and was admitted to the 
Bar at Harrison, Clare Co., Mich., in March, 1882, 
since which time he has practiced his profession, 
being in company with his father in his business 
matters. Together they own about 240 acres of land, 
of which 45 are improved. Mr. P. has been Super- 
visor one year. Clerk of Grant Township, Clare 
County, one year, and of Warren Townshi[), this 
county, one year, and Village Clerk one year. Polit- 
ically he belongs to the Republican party. 

March 22, 1S84, Mr. Post was married to Miss Isa- 
i)ella v., daughter of Miciiael Doherty, who is now 
living on a farm in Belfast, Allegany Co., N. Y. Mrs. 
Post is a graduate of that place, is a school and music 
teacher and is a member of the Catholic Church. 
She was born in Belfast, Feb. 17, 1859. 



ustus B. Johnson, fanner on section 36, 
_^|jt" Midland Township, is a son of John A. 
^'^ and Sally (Barden) Johnson, natives of 




New Jersey and Massachusetts respectively; 
the former died in Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1859, 
and the latter in Midland Township, this 
county, at the home of the subject of this sketch, 
Aug. 18, 1872. Their family included nine children 
— four sons and five daughters. 

The third son, Justus, was born in Monroe Co., N. 
Y., May 8, 1820, and lived at home until 17 years of 
age, receiving a good, common education. He 
learned the cooper's trade, which he followed most 
of the time until 1869. In the fall of that year he 





came to Midland County, and purchased 80 acres of 
wild land, where he has made his home since the 
fall of 187 I, when his family moved upon the place. 
He has purchased 160 acres additional, and has now 
about 60 acres under the plow. 

April 4, 1846, in Erie ("o., N. Y., occurred his 
nuptials with Hiss Margaret, daughter of William and 
Elizabeth (Vanderbilt) Wyckoff, natives of the State 
of New York. Mrs. Wyckoff was a cousin of Cor- 
nelius Vanderbilt, father of the present railroad 
magnate. Mrs. Johnson was born in the Empire 
State, Nov. 17, 1817, and died in Erie Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 21, 1870, having been the mother of five chil- 
dren — Charles A., Myron J., Alphonso (died when 
four months old), Elizabeth S. and Alice S. 

Mr. J. is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist 
Church, in politics is a Republican, and has been 
Overseer of Highways for three years. 



SllpWra' .rederick M. Burton, favnier, section 12, 
xJibsSJ'j Edenville Townshi[), was born April 3, 
Kp^""" 1849, in Dexter, Penobscot Co., Me. His 
^p parents, David and Emeline (Copeland) Bur- 
-'l^ ton, were natives of Maine and of English de- 
l scent. The father was born in September, 
1 80 1. The mother was born Aug. 14, 1815, and 
died April 20, 1881, in Edenville Township. The 
family removed to Webster, Washtenaw Co., Mich., 
in November, 1851, and there resided until 1854, 
when they made another transfer to East Sagi- 
naw, where they passed the winter of 1854-5. 
The father owned a farm in Washtenaw County 
during the three years in which he was a resi- 
dent there, and was foreman of a lumber camp at 
Saginaw for Tift Jerome the winter previous to his 
removal. Meanwhile he took advantage of an oppor- 
tunity which presented of buying the farm on which 
he has since resided, in Edenville Township, paying 
therefor 50 cents per acre. 

Mr. Burton was not cpiite seven years of age when 
liis parents settled in Eden Township, and he grew 
to manhood and obtained a common-school educa- 
tion under his father's care and supervision. He 
spent some years in his employ after he was 21, re- 
maining at home until his marriage. On the occur- 
rence of that event he purchased 30 acres of unim- 






^: 






■)(v ^ f|^»— 



.^:;^.JL 



<>D!l^:iltlf> 



Zu:^ 



^^^^ 







&-'T<mmm>T- 



'^^^^iVS 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



' proved land of his father, on which he has since 
resided, and he now has 15 acres under cuhivation. 
Mr. Burton belongs to the National Greenback party 
I in political affiliation. He has held the oftice of 
X Drain C'ommissioner, and has been re-elected for an- 
other term. 

He was married jNIay 13, 1873, to Lizzie P., daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Elizabeth Ann (Aikens) Grans- 
den. Her parents reside in Edenville and are 
respectively of English and Irish descent. Her 
mother was born Nov. 18, 1814, in Ireland, and her 
father was born in England, Feb. 14, iS'io. Mrs. 
Burton was born Nov. 27, 1852. Three children 
have been born of her marriage, as follows : David 
C, July 30, 1874; Stephen L., Feb. 15, 1876; Mary 
Rosa, April 14, 1878. Mr. Burton is a UniversaUst 
in religious belief; his wife is a Roman Catholic. 

-tSs. — 



Jx -if^^l^gbert Bradley, farmer, sec. 27, Midland, is 
■^- ej irMili)' son of Joseph and Mary (Emmons) Bradley, 
=1 (0^^^ the former a native of Connecticut ar.d the 
•^ °^i£ latter of New York, who emigrated to this 
=1 t' State in 1842, setthng in Livnigston County, 
'J* 1 where she died, in June, 1844. He afterward 
removed to Ionia Co., Mich., where he died, Sept. 
: ) 19, 1880. 

Egbert was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., July 30, 
1829, and was about 13 years of age when he came 
to Michigan with his parents. He started out for 
himself in the world when about 20 years of age, first 
finding employment in a saw-mill at Port Huron for 
about six months; then ten months in a mill in the 
Upper Peninsula: then returned to Livingston 
County ; then followed lumbering and blacksmith- 
ing about four years in Genesee County. Next, 
in i860, he went to Colorado in search of gold, 
meeting with some success, earning the coveted 
metal by farming, mining and milling; was tliere six 
years. He returned to Ionia County, and in the fall 
(aS of 1867 came to this county, where he has since re- 
I sided. He now owns 177 acres of land, in Midland 
Township, besides village property in Midland; has 
50 acres of his farm land in a good state of cultiva- 
tion. 

He has held the office of Highway Commissioner 
two years; is a member of the Masonic Order; in 



politics, is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential 
vote for (ien. Winfield Scott. 

Mr. Bradley was married in Ionia Co., Mich., Nov. 
17, 1867, to Mrs. Hannah, widow of Darius P. 
Thompson and daughter of John and Hannah Steers, 
who was born in Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., Dec. 15, 
1845. She had by her first husband one child, named 
Darius P. Thompson, Jr., and by her jjresent mar- 
riage has had two children, namely, Mary F^. and 
Joseph R. Mrs. Bradley's father died when she was 
a child, and her mother resides with the suliject of 
this sketch. She is 76 years old, and blind. 



'irSJ^^o^v 



?C^i>»T-i^ 



j^aniel E. Grover, farmer and lumberman, 

residing at Edenville, was born March 22, 

-^fi^" 1843, in Detroit, this State. His parents 

Tjfi, were James C. and Catherine M. (Hough) 
^ Grover. The father was a cari>enter and joiner 

% by trade, and died at Bay ('Ity, Bay County, 
this State, .\pril 5, 1877, in the 59th year of his age. 
He descended from that class of Puritans who were 
known as "Independents," who established the first 
colony at Plymouth. His family consisted of seven 
children: three boys and four girls. The mother 
was born at St. Catherine's, Can., and was of German 
descent. The family moved from Detroit to Shia- 
wassee County, this State, where the father followed 
his trade for three years, and then removed to Port 
Huron, St. Clair Co., and there followed his trade for 
two or three years. From Port Huron he went to 
Point aux Barques, where he remained for two years. 
During his stay at the latter place he built a saw- 
mill and was engaged for some time in running the 
same. His next move was to East Saginaw, where 
he engaged in the grocery business and worked at 
his trade for about three years. F"rom East Saginaw 
he moved to Bay City, where he died, as before 
stated. 

Daniel E. Grover, the subject of this biographical 
notice, was the fourth child of his father's family. 
He lived at home under the care of his parents, 
assisting in the maintenance of the family, and 
develo|)ed into manhood. On arriving at the age of 
maturity he set forth upon the road of adversity to 
battle against the trials of hfe. He engaged in 
lumbering and running on the rivers for a time, when 



I 

X=l 

0) 



gKVg))^^#- 



ui^-1. 



mwM^^>^^ — ^^f^ 



-*^ 




E3RT" 



/»*HV1VJ 




'< 




HHtattMJ 




MIDLAND COUNTY. 



f 







:^ 






^ 



m 



he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked on the 
Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad for two years. From 
Cleveland he went to Pittsburg, Pa., and worked on 
the railroad for a time, when he obtained a position 
on the police force, and served on that for two years 
and ten months. From Pittsburg he moved to West 
Bay City, this State, where he remained for two 
years, and during a part of that time he was Marshal 
of the City. His ne.\t move was to Edenville, this 
county, where he built a house and where he now 
resides. He has a farm of 80 acres, which he culti- 
vates during the summer, and he follows the voca- 
tion of " lumbering " winters. 

Mr. Grover was united in marriage Dec. 25, 1865, 
to Miss Kate, daughter of John W. and Ellen 
Grover. Both her parents were of German de- 
scent, and died in Edenville, her father at the 
age of 89 years. Mrs. Kate Grover, wife of the sub- 
ject of this notice, was born in Norfolk Co., Can., May 
16, 1844. She is the mother, to Mr. Grover, of seven 
children, four of whom are deceased. The living 
are Daisy, James Henry, Samuel L. and Catherine 
M. The deceased are John Worthington, Geddes 
and Daniel. 

Politically, Mr. Grover is a Democrat. He has 
held the office of Justice of the Peace, and socially 
is a genial-hearted citizen and an ardent worker for 
the interests of the community in which he resides. 



eorge Miller, farmer and mill proprietor, 
^j. residing on section 29, \Varren Township, 
^^i and one of the representative as well as self- 
made men of the county, was born Sept. 20, 
I 1845, in Hagerstown, Wayne Co., Ind. He is 
a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Sexton) Miller. 
The father of Mr. Miller went to California when 
George was only four years of age, in 1849, during 
the great overland rush to that country. He was 
ambitious to secure a competency, and, tliough limited 
in education, possessed that faculty of push and de- 
termination which seldom fails to overthrow and con- 
cpier all obstacles. He learned the trade of black- 
smith and followed the same for a while in the "land 
of gold," but soon abandoned it and went to San 
Francisco and Sacramento. He was very successful 
in California, and sent his family some $3,500; but 




before he had secured a sufficiency he was taken sick 
and died. His death occurred in 1858, some eight 
years after he arrived in the " Golden State," and 
none of his family saw him from the time of his de- 
parture from his home in Indiana. 

George Miller, the subject of our biographical 
notice, remained with his mother in Wayne County, 
assisting in the maintenance of the family and attend- 
ing the common schools, until he attained the age of 
18 years. On arriving at that age, he learned the 
painter's trade and followed it for five years. He 
then engaged as an employee in a saw-mill at New 
Lisbon, owned by his brother. He remained with his 
brother in the mill for three years, and in the fall of 
1869 came to this county. 

He and his brother erected a steam mill on the 
Tittabawassee River just below Sanford, and he was 
actively engaged in operating it for two years. He 
sold the mill at the expiration of the time mentioned, 
to Benj. Dean, and went to Coleman. 

In 187 I, Mr. Miller purchased a portable mill and 
erected it at Coleman, in this county. He added to 
its capacity nearly every year until Oct. ir, 1883, 
when it was destroyed by fire. The mill property 
was worth about $6,000, and was insured for only 
$2,700, causing a net loss in its destruction of $3,300. 

In the winter of 1883, Mr. Miller erected another, 
larger and more costly mill than the one destroyed 
by fire. He runs about seven months during each 
year, and his mill has the capacity to produce about 
$4,000 worth of stock per month. It is a saw-mill, 
shingle-mill and hoop-mill. The saw-mill has a ca- 
pacity of about 1,000 feet an hour; the shingle-mill 
40,000 shingles every 1 1 hours, and the hoop-mill 
12,000 hoops every 11 hours. 

The mother of Mr. Miller died in Bloomington, 
111., in June, 1863. She was the mother of ri chil- 
dren, eight boys and three girls, all of whom, except 
one, lived until they attained the age of manhood 
and womanhood. Two died while fighting for their 
country's flag in the late civil war. One son was 
wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 
1863, and died on the 21st of the same month. An- 
other son died, after leaving the army, from disease 
contracted while on duty. 

Mr. Miller was united in marriage Oct. 31, 1870, 
to Miss Catherine Adella, daughter of Charles C. and 
Eliza B. (Burton) Sanford. Her father is still living, 



I 



9 

r=i 
1=: 



< 




^f^# 



j^ 



M^unMi^ 




Au=i. 



IM 



348 



>ii5%ar''^ 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



"isirwisr" 



^i!^(^ 



.Of 






:<0 



V 

> 



/ 



at Sanford, and has attained the venerable age of 65 
years. The motlier died some six years ago. Mrs. 
Miller was born Dec. 24, 1S51, at Geneva, Ashtabula 
Co., Ohio. The husband and wife were the parents 
of two children : George Ora was born Aug. 31, 187 i, 
in ('oleman, this county, and died at Sanford Nov. 22, 
1874, of scarlet rash. Cora was born Junes, 1874, 
in Sanford, and died Oct. 29, 1879, at Coleman. 

Politically, Mr. Miller is a ijclicver in and sup- 
|X)rter of the princi[)les of the Republican party. He 
has been Justice of the Peace four years, Supervisor 
three terms. Township Treasurer one term and Higli- 
way Commissioner two terms. He was a Democrat 
until the tariff question was introduced into politics, 
and then joined the Republican party. Socially, Mr. 
Miller holds a high posilton in tiie estimation of the 
citizens ot his township. He possesses that push 
about him which adds to the development and pros- 
perity of the community in which he resides and 
makes many warm and true friends. 

He owns the three farms in Warren Township ad- 
joining the village of Coleman, comprising 330 acres. 
He has 170 acres of this land improved, 40 acres in 
wheat and 60 in meadow. Mr. Miller was the first 
man to manufacture shingles and hoops in the town- 
shij), and has done much to advance the interests of 
the same. 

The jwrtrait of Mr. Miller, which a])pears on an- 
other iiage, is a fitting addition to the Biogr.mmiicai. 

AND POUTRAIT Al.lUIM OF MlDI.ANU CoU.N IV. He 

has been prominent in the best interests of his town- 
ship and county since he became resident therein, 
and has contributed his inllncnce and effort to the 
snlislanti.d progress of bolii. 



-^-3-E-<^- 



-^— 




"'"indrew Fransen, farmer, section 34, Jerome 
rownshi|), was born Jan. 10, 1844, in Ring- 
ster, Denmark. His parents, Nels and Anna 
(Hansen) Fransen, are naiivesof Denmark, and 
emigrated to America in 1869. They made 
their first location al IMoomfield, Saginaw Co., Midi., 
where they remained one year, and in 1870 settled 
in Jerome Township. Tlie fatlicr died May 2, 18S4, 
and the mother survives. 

In that year Mr. Fransen entered a homestead 
claim of So acres, of which he took [wssession in tiie 




spring. The entire tract was in a wild condition, 
and he has improved about 30 acres. Mr. Fransen 
is a Lutheran in his religious connections; is now 
serving as Justice of the Peace. 

He was married Dec. 15, 1877, in Midland, to 
Helen, dangiiter of Samuel and Maiy Ann (Nugent) 
Winters. The mollier was born at Rockville, Md. 
The fatlier was born May 5, 1S09, al Emmettsburg, 
Frederick Co., Md. Mrs. Fransen was born April 
14, 1852, at the last named place. The children 
horn of her marriage are recorded as follows: Mary 
Ann was born Jan. 21, 1881 ; John Thomas was 
born May 31, 1882. An unnamed infant died a week 
after birth. 




genjamin F. Slough, farmer, section 32, 
Porter Township, was born May 23, 1828, 
in Lycoming Co., Pa. Benjamin and Es- 
ther (Smith) Slough, his (larents, were natives 
of the Keystone State, of German ancestry. 
Tiiey belonged to the agricultural class and 
died in their native State, — the one in 1862, tlie otlier 
in 1849. Their family comprised seven sons and two 
daughters. Two of the former are deceased. 

Mr. Slough is the sixth child of his parents, and 
accompanied them, when he was six years old, to 
Snyder Co , Pa., where he passed the years of liis 
minority in obtaining his education in the common 
schools. On attaining to the period of his legal 
freedom, he went to work as a canal-boat builder, in 
which he was employed five years. For some time 
thenceforward he operated as a carpenter and joiner 
at Freeport, Illinois, and he traveled at odd times 
ihruugh 15 States. In 1854, he vvent to Summit Co., 
Ohio, and again engaged in the construction of canal 
boats on the Ohio ("anal. He came to Midland Co., 
Mich., in 1S56, and at once entered a homestead 
claim of ifio acres in Porter Townsliip, where he was 
the Inst permanent settler. Tliere was not a single 
tiioroughfave in its whole extent, and when Mr. 
Slc)iigli built his liouse, which was the first within the 
township limits, he was under the severe necessity ol 
obtaining all supplies from St. Louis, Gratiot County, 
a distance of 1 2 miles, and of paying for them at 
extravagant rates. The route, was made by water 
and over Indian trails. This kind of life continued 
six years before they could obtain a team. On set- 



I 






4 



t 

t; ■'-• 




I 

0!i 



^ 



£-»s=J«e- 



-^i 









>; 



V 



> 



I 






V 

1 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



tling on his estate he abandoned his trade and has 
since given his attention wholly to the improvement 
of his property. He claims one of the best farms in 
the township, on which he has improved 40 acres and 
erected suitable and creditable farm buildings. 

Mr. Slough was married March 29, 1859, at Free- 
port, 111., to Sarah J. Holmes, who was lx)rn in Car- 
roll Co., Ohio, Oct 13, 1832. She went in her child- 
hood with her parents to Seneca County, where she 
was educated and reared to womanhood. Her par- 
ents still reside there, aged respectively 75 and 76 
years. One child bom of her marriage is living, — 
Mrs. Ida .S. Kirne. (.See sketch of J. W. Kime.) She 
was bom Nov. 27, 1862. Lillie D. (Slough) Kime 
was born Aug. 17, i860, and died Sept. 4, 1880. 

Mr. Slough is independent in political views, and 
has been Township Treasurer, besides having held 
the minor local offices. 




ieary Baymond, fanner on section 15, Hope 
Township, was bom at Port Huron, St. Clair 
Co., Mich., April 11, 1840, the son of Nicholas 
and Sophia (Lavier) Raymond. The father, a 
blacksmith by occupation, died when Henry 
was 12 years old. The mother still lives at 
Port Huron. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, 
and left home to make his own way in life when 15 
years old. He commenced by working by the month 
as a farm laborer. He has been in this county since 
May 3, i860. Shortly after coming, and before he 
was 21, he bought 40 acres of Willjam McCrary. He 
afterwards sold this and bought 58 acres of Amasa 
Rust, in what is now Exienville Township, which he 
at once set about improving. In 1867, he settled on 
his present place of 80 acres in Hope Township. 

Jan. 31, 1864, in Jerome (now Exienville) Town- 
ship, he was united in wedlock with Miss Rosaltha 
Erway, daughter of Daniel and Hilah (Clark) Erway. 
i£r. E. is dead; Mrs. E. resides with her son Sylves- 
ter. Mrs. Raymond was bom Aug. 9, 1846, in the 
State of New York. 

Of this marriage six children are living, and three 
deceased. Ettoile I^., bom Nov. 13, 1864, died Aug. 
19, 1866; Effa V. was bom Jan. 14, 1868; Sophia 
L., Dec. 13, 1869; William Isaac, July 5, 1872; next 





in order, two infants died when two days old ; Hilah 
R. was born March 24, 1878; Henry Garfield, Oct. 
10, 1880; and Jesse H., Nov. 6, 1882. 

Mr. R. is a Republican, and has been Highway 
Commissioner. 



ll^harleB Overton, farmer, section 14, Mid- 
land Township, is a son of Thomas and 
Elizaljeth A. (Temple) Overton, natives of 
England and America respectively. 
Charles Overton, the subject of this sketch, 
was bom in Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 26, 1846. 
He lived in his native State, where he followed the 
occupation of fanner, until 1866, when, in November 
of that year, he came to Midland City, this county, 
and for three years engaged as an employe in the 
lumber woods. After that he was variously em- 
ployed in Midland City, unril 1878, when he moved 
upon the farm of 40 acres on section 24, Midland 
Township, which he had purchased when he was 
18 years old, and on which he at present resides, 
and of which he has about 20 acres improved. 

Mr. Overton was married July 2, 1876, to Sarah 
A., daughter of George and Harriet Morgan, natives 
of England, in which countrj- the daughter was bom, 
Sept. 22, 1847. Religiously, she is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. O. is 
a believer in and supporter of the Republican party. 



■Sr^-^fi^- 



.IK-lexander J. Baymond, farmer on section 
f^^ff^^, 14, Hoi^ Township, was bom in Wayne 
t »S Co., Mich., March 4, 1837, the son of Nicho- 
'*(il las and Sophia (Lavier) Raymond. Mr. R., 
i' Sr., was killed in Kimball Township, St. Clair 
Co., Mich , about 1850, by the falling of a limb of a 
tree. His widow was subsequently married to David 
Moore, and now lives just outside the corporation 
limits of the city of Port Huron. Her living chil- 
dren by Mr. Raymond are named Henry, Sylvester, 
Richard, Julia and Joseph D.; and by Mr. Moore, 
Eber B., Louisa and Elvira. 

Although his father was by occupation a black- 
smith. Alexander worked while a boy on a farm. At 









'^: 






\ 






m 




-:^^K — 6v<- ^a D >: n n^ i>v 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



t 



) 






S 




the age of 1 6 he set out for himself. In September, 
1854, he came to Edenville Township, this county, 
and commenced working in tlie woods for Tift 
Jerome, in wliosc employ he remained most of the 
time for 15 years. He was in Edenville from Sep- 
tember to March, then in St. Clair County during the 
summer, returning to this county in the fall. The 
ensuing three years he traveled througli a number of 
the Western States, working at lumbering, farming, 
etc., after which he worked two years at lumbering 
in this county, and on the river. 

In the spring of i860 he bought So acres of land 
under the Graduation Act, paying 25 cents per acre. 
He built a shanty and commenced to improve his 
place, but in this he was interrupted by the breaking 
out of the civil war. Aug. 13, i85i, he enlisted in 
Co. D. 1 6th Mich. \'ol. Inf, under Col. Stockton and 
Capt. Benj. Fisher. He was assigned to the Third 
Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, under 
Cien. Fitz John Porter. With the exception of three 
months in hospital, from a wound, he served entirely 
throughout the war. He was wounded at Gaines' 
Hill, June 27, 1862, in the left middle finger, which 
was amputated just below the middle joint. He 
participated in McClellan's Peninsular campaign, 
and was with Porter when the latter was ordered to 
assist Pope, at the second Bull Run, but disobeyed 
orders, resulting in his dismissal from the army. He 
fought in the Fifth Corps, under Gen. Warren, from 
the battle of the Wilderness to the surrender of Lee ; 
fought at Gettysburg, Antietam and Fredericksburg; 
and was mustered out July 25, 1865, when he re- 
turned to his farm in Edenville. Thence he subse- 
quently removed to Hope Township. He now owns 
72ji$ acres in the latter townshi)), of which 25 are 
improved. 

February 14, 1864, while home on a veteran fur- 
lough, he was married to Miss Carrie A. Burton, 
daughter of David and Emeline (Copeland) Burton. 
Mr. B. is living on a part of the old homestead with 
his son Edwin. Mrs. B. is deceased. Mrs. Ray- 
mond was born Oct. 13, 1844, in Penobscot Co., 
Me. She is the mother of nine children, as follows: 
Ada E., born Nov. 12, 1865; Alfred J., Oct. 26, 
1866; Nelson E., June 18, i86g; David N., April 6, 
1870; Joseph A., April 26, 1872; Clyde W., May 
25, 1874; Guy M., March 21, 1876; Royal J., May 
5, 1878; Julia A., June 25, 18S1. The first four 



were born in Edenville, the last five in Hope Town- 
ship. 

Mr. Raymond has been Supervisor three years, 
and Township Treasurer an e(iual period; also 
Highway Commissioner between two and three years. 
In political sentiment he is a Republican. 

He was the sixth wiiite man to settle in what is 
now F.deiiville Township, the five before him coming 
in the following order: Abraham Egbert, Jacob 
Hagar, John Hoose, Daniel Bowman, Zenas Weaver. 

►^ ^^^-i^S'v> J— ^ 



11^2*; hilip Woodcock, farmer, section 32, Mid- 
; latSi'''', land Township, is a son of Isaac and Nancy 
j\^ (Seeves) Woodcock, who were natives of 
Sjj^ Canada. He too, was born in that country 
)!§^ July 10, 1846, and lived there until October, 
1868, when he came to Midland County and pur- 
chased 60 acres where he has since lived and now 
has almost 45 acres in a fine state of cultivation. 

Mr. W. was first married, in Midland City, May 9, 
1S70, to Elizabeth Smith, who was a native of Homer 
Township, and they had two children, Elda and Wil- 
liam, the latter dying when an infant. Mrs. W. died 
July 26, 1872, and Mr. Woodcock was again mar- 
ried, in Midland City, May 12, 1883, to Eunice, 
daughter of William and Elsie Jose. 

Mr. W. has been School Moderator, and in politics 
is a National. 



Ibyn L. Bellinger, farmer, section 36, Lee 
.^^^i Township, was born in St. Lawrence Co., 
|1^^ N. Y., July 17, 1845. The parents of Mr. 
'S-^ Bellinger were Christopher and Clarissa, na- 
il^ tives of the Mohawk Valley, N. Y., and de- 
1 scendants of the early German settlers of that 
valley. The father followed the blacksmith's trade 
for a livelihood and he and his wife both died in St. 
Lawrence County. 

Albyn L. Bellinger, the subject of our 'uiographical 
notice, is the only living son and the youngest child 
of his father's family of nine children, si.x boys having 
died previous to the birth of our subject. He lived 
on the parental homestead, assisting his father and 
attending the common schools, until he attained the 




v^ 



C); 



CA' 






r 



1/ 




$«^#«^ 



U "V ^ 



<>tl n >: D li^>;^e^ — :i<€^%^ 



4^ 



^ 

^ 






) 



"a: 



V 

f,. 



o 



t 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




age of 17, with the exception of two years. During 
the latter period he attended the academy in Gouve- 
nour, the same county. 

At this period in his Hfe, the nation was startled 
from her peaceful sleep of years by the firing on 
Sumter, and our martyr President calling for brave 
hearts and strong arms to defend the cause of justice, 
Mr. Bellinger resiwnded. He enlisted in Co. B, 
1 06th N. Y. Vol. Inf, which was attached to the 
Army of the Potomac, Sixth Corps, whicli was com- 
manded by Gens. Sedgwick and Wright respectively. 
He participated in a large number of active engage- 
ments and was in some of the most hotiy contested 
battles of the war. Among the engagements in 
which he took part were the battles of Belmont, 
Martinsburg, Culpeper, Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, 
Cedar Creek, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg 
and Monocacy. At the latter engagement he was 
taken prisoner and sent to Danville, Va., and from 
there was removed to Libby Prison. He was incar- 
cerated in these two prisons for seven months, when 
he was paroled and joined his regiment in time to 
witness Lee s surrender. After the latter event, he 
participated with his regiment in the pursuit of John- 
son until his army surrendered, when his regiment 
returned to Washington, D. C, and June 29, 1865, 
Mr. B., with the rest of his companions in arms, re- 
ceived an honorable discharge from his country's 
service. 

Mr. Bellinger then returned to his native home 
and shortly afterward, July 5, 1865, at Ogdensburg, 
St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., he was united in marriage 
with Miss Hannah Davison. She was a daughter of 
Samuel and Rebecca (White) Davison. The parents 
were of Scotch descent and nativity, and emigrated 
to Canada at an early day, where they were married 
and where the daughter was born, Feb. 17, 1845. 
Mrs. B. lived in Canada until 18 years old, and then 
went to St. Lawrence County, two years previous to 
her union with Mr. B. 

After marriage, Mr. Bellinger followed the occupa- 
tion of farming, in St. Lawrence County, for six years, 
when, with his family, he went to Ontario. He re- 
mained at the latter place about two years, when he 
removed to Porter Township, this county and State, 
and purchased 90 acres of land. He made consider- 
able improvement on this place, then sold it and 
moved to Jasper Township. He lived in the latter 

^J^^^s:i&« ^^^^ 9-^^^ DO 




for some time, during which period he spent two 
years lumbering on the Chipjjewa River, and at vari- 
ous other occupations, and then removed to Lee 
Township, where he is at present residing. He has 
a well improved farm of 80 acres on section 36, and 
in addition to its cultivation he devotes his winters 
to lumbering. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bellinger are the parents of two chil- 
dren, Rutledge R., born Oct. 15, rS66; and Gertrude, 
born Aug. 8, 1873. 

Politically, Mr. B. is a staunch Republican; and 
he has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Deputy 
Sheriff, Superintendent of Schools and is at present a 
Supervisor. Socially, he is a member of the L O. O. 
P., of Lindsay, Ont , and is identified with the edu- 
cational interests of his community. 




illiam Dunning, farmer on section 22, 
Hope Township, was born at Saginaw, 
„ Mich., April 15, 185 i, the son of Ransom 

i> and Christina (McDonald) Dunning. Mr. 
^^ Dunning, Sr., was a native of Connecticut, 
and died at Midland City Nov. 19, 1880. The 
mother was born in Scotland, and died six miles from 
Saginaw, in Jamestown Township, June 16, 1868. 
Malcolm, John and William are the names of their 
three sons. 

Their third son, William, was reared on a farm until 
15 years old, then followed lumbering in the winters 
and worked on the river in summers, until Dec. 2, 
1880, when he arrived in Hope Township, this 
county. Here he has since made his home. He 
moved into the house of his father, the latter having 
died the month previous, and is now living in the 
oldest log house in Hope Township, his father having 
bought it of Zenas Weaver. While Mr. Weaver was 
building this house, a wolf came to the window hole, 
put his feet on the sill, looked in quietly and went 
away. Mr. Dunning bought 40 acres of land of Mr. 
Weaver, and 60 of James Riggs. 

He was married July 3, 1875, to Lizzie McPeak, 
daughter of Richard and ^fargaret (Cane) McPeak. 
Mr. McP. died Aug. 14, 1869, at Saginaw, and Mrs. 
McP. is now living at Saginaw, on the old Pennoyer 
farm, which has been cut into lots. Mrs. Dunning 



V^ 



9 

A 



(.V 



<|) 



<k 



^M^ 




^7^^-"— ■ 



^;^ 



252 






V 

v) 



3 
\ 



t 



Af ID LAND COUNTY 



^m\^ 



was botEi Feb. 12, 1858, near London, Can., and was 
the third of eight children, named John, Mary A., 
Lizzie, Maggie, Teresa, Rosa M.. AmeHa (deceased) 
and Richard. 

Three children have been born to Mr. and -Mrs. 
D., as follows: Frankic, May 5, 1876, in Saginaw 
City; Clissie, ^Llrch iS, 1S78, in Saginaw City; and 
Lydia, (.>ct. 15, 1882, in Hope Township. 

Mr. D. has been Township Treasurer for two 
terms. 



'''Sirthur W. Dorr, farmer and lumberman^ 
^^ resident on section 3, Porter Township, was 
^1^ born Jan. 9, 182S, in Piscataquis Co., Me. 
'•lisr His parents, M. D. and Eliza (Lowe) Dorr, 
were natives of Maine and belonged to the 
agricultural class. Their family included 1 1 
children, four of whom are deceased. The father 
now resides at Dover, Me., and is 84 years old. The 
mother died when she was 7 i years of age. 

Mr. Dorr is the second son and fourth child of his 
parents. He followed the pursuits common to his 
native county, working on his father's fiirm and in 
the lumber woods until he was 23 years old, when 
he went to California. He made the journey by sea 
and was five months and 20 days en rouU, landing 
at San Francisco April 20, 1S53. He went to Eldo- 
rado County, in the Golden State, where he engaged 
in placer-mining. He e.xperienced the vicissitudes 
of the miner's life with results which enabled liim to 
embark in the lumber business, which he did in the 
same county, and also managed a hotel three years. 
He was occupied in his various enterprises in Eldo- 
r.ado County until the fall of 1869, when he went to 
Soloma County, in the same State, where he spent 
three years as a carpenter and builder. Returning 
to Eldor.ado County, he remained there until the fall 
of 1873, when he returned to his native State. After 
a short stay there he came to Michigan and engaged 
in lumbering on the Pine River in the interests of 
his brother-in-law, S. L. Wiggins, of East Saginaw. 
In 1875 he bought the farm he now owns and man- 
ages, consisting of 240 acres of stump land, on which 
he at once began the work of improvement. He has 
65 acres under the plow, a comfortable residence and 
one of the most commodious and conveniently 
arranged barns in this section. In political affilia- 




tion Mr. Dorr is a Republican. He has been Town- 
sin'p Clerk six years, and in 1879 was appointed 
Postmaster at tlie i)lace now known as Bradford. 

Tlie first marriage of Mr. Dorr occurred May 16, 
1863, at Genoa, Nev., to Eliza Brown, a native of 
Ijsndon, Eng. She came to California from her 
native land when she was 23 years old. She died in 
California, Nov. 28, 1S72, aged t,t, years, 6 months 
and 16 days. Four children survive her — Ella M., 
born M.ty 20, 1864; Arthur D., June 20, 1366; 
Frances M., March 28, 186S, and Harry R., July 22, 
187 I. Mr. Dorr was a second time . married July 9, 
1875, in Saginaw Co., Mich., to Mrs. Sarah E. (Ful- 
ler) Hart. She was born Dec. 23, 1827, at Free- 
dom, Me. Her parents removed to Dover, Me., 
where she grew to womanhood and became the wife 
of Peleg Hart, who died in February, 187 i, leaving 
one child — Edna M., born May 15, 1865. Mr. and 
Mrs. Dorr are members of the Congregational 
Church. 




m 



^^^# 



Konathan Pierce, "mine host" of the Ex- 
|||^■ change Hotel in Coleman, was born Feb. 
^** 19, 1 82 1, in Oswego Co., N. Y. He was a 
son of Benjamin B. and Polly (French) Pierce. 
His father was born in August, 17S5, and died 
Jan. 10, 1875. Jonathan's grandfather was 
one of tlie early settlers in the Wyoming Valley, 
Luzerne Co., Pa., and his wife and three children 
were among the 300 who in July, 1778, were massa- 
cred by the Tories and Indians. The family of 
Jonathan's father embraced five children, of whom 
our subject was the third child from the eldest. He 
lived at home and assisted on the farm during the 
summer months, and occupied his time winters in 
lumbering and teaching school, until he was 27 
years old. He was also engaged in the lumbering 
and wood business in Oswego County until 1869. 
The following year, 1870, Jonathan came to Midland 
City, this county. He engaged in partnership with 
a gentleman in the milling business at that place, 
but in the Hill of the same year he went to Coleman 
and erected a steam saw-mill, which was destroyed 
by fire in 1874. It was supjiosed to have been the 
work of an incendiary. His fiimily did not arrive 
until the fall of 1S71. While the station house was 
being built at Coleman he boarded the railroad men. 



«^ 



A 



< 
( 






> 



• 



?'^>!^ 



-^^ 




m 
^ 



^^a^^^^ 



<^.w^m>T 



r 



■ -I. 



T 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^^^ 



•J 



>; 






A 



^ 



his wife doing the cooking and sending the meals to 
the hands. 

Mr. Pierce was united in marriage April 13, 1848, 
in Cortland Co., K. Y., to Miss Celista, daughter of 
James and \j)\s (Johnson) Burnhara. Her parents 
died in Cortland County. She was bom Dec. 9, 
1824, in Cortland Co., N. Y. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are the parents of four chil- 
dren living, and one deceased. The li«ng are Lois 
A., bom Oct. 13, 1849; Priscilla A., Feb. 13, 1854: 
aifion J., Dec. 25, 1858; Effie C, March 2, 1861 ; 
Leila B., Jan. 20, 1870, died Feb. 5, 1881. 



JSHGMfe^ 




% 



1 1 ester M. Bailey, lumberman, section 34, 
__^^ Jasj^r Township, is a son of Benson B. 
>;-^T and Mary (Ludlow) Bailey. (See sketch 
of Benson B. Bailey.) He was bom in Seneca 
Township, Lenawee Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1856, 
\ and was eight years old when he came with his 
parents to this county, where he now resides. Here 
he grew up, assisting on the farm and attending 
school. After he became of age he commenced 
lumbering on Pine River, and has followed the busi- 
ness ever since. At his home he has a very fine 
frtece of projjerty, owning 80 acres on section 34 and 
440 acres in Montcalm Co., Mich. Fifty acres of 
the former place is in 2 good state of cultiv^on. 

In his political views, Mr. Bailey is a zealous Re- 
publican. He is a member of Lodge No. 144, 
I. O. O. F., at St. Louis. 

Feb. 2, 1880, Mr. B. married Miss Sarah P., a 
daughter of John and Julia (Dcpue) Fields, resident 
at S;. Louis. She was bom May 23, 1859, in Isa- 
bella Co., Mich., and when a young woman accom- 
panied her parents in change of residence to St. 
Louis. 

' &^6' °^^ ■**" Chamberlain, fanne^ section 36, 

■ „^H Ingersoll Township, is a son of Eriel. and 

•'■ Marj- A. (Barnes) Chamberlain, and was 

- y born in Saginaw Co., Mich., May 8, 1848. 

% When he was 15 years old bis father enlisted 

y in the war, and consequently the cares of the 

homestead devolved upon him at so early a time in 

his youth. He was thus employed for three years. 




Although farming has been his life business, he has 
been employed considerably in the lumber woods 
and on the river. 

In the spring of 1866 he bouaht 30 acres of land in 
section 36, where he now resides. When he came to 
it there was very little im]>rovement there, but by in- 
dustry, guided by good judgment, he has added 30 
acres to his estate and has now 38 acres in a well 
cultivated condirion. 

OflScially, Mr. C. has been Justice of the Peace 
two years; politically, he prefers the "National" 
party ; and religiously, both himself and wife belong 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

He was inarried in Saginaw City, Mich., July 2. 
1867, to Miss Ann J., daughter of Da\-id and Paulina 
(Wood) Cromton, who were natives of VermonL Mrs. 
C. was bom in Hadley, Lapeer Co., Mich., June 20, 
1850, and came with her parents to Midland County 
when three years old. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Chamberlain are, Daniel C, .■^da B., Clarence E. 
(deceased), Oliver R., Claude D. and Bennie A. 



4 



Peter Baymond, farmer on section 15, 
Hope Township, was bom in Detroit, Mich., 
-y,p- "^ June 15, 1828, the son of Peter and Char- 
ts lotte (Boullar) Raymond, of French descent. 
^ The father died of small-pox at Windsor, Can., 
y when J. P. was but four years old. The 
mother, a native of Canada, has married again, and 
lives in Wayne Co., Mich., three miles from Rock- 
wood Station. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm 
and remained at home until of age. His first em- 
ployment after attaining his majority was in the lum- 
ber woods in the winter seasons and in saw-mills in 
the summers. He came to Michigan in 1852, stop- 
ping in St. Oair County. Here he lived for 16 
years, working at various things — in the woods, at 
farming, or anything else which could yield a liveli- 
hood. In the fall of 1868 he came to Midland 
County and bought his present fami of 80 acres in 
Hope (then Lincoln) Township. To this he has 
added 40 acres. It was then in its primitive state 
of wild forest. He has now 55 acres under the plow, 
and several acres more chopped. 

Mr. Raymond enlisted July 18, 1862, in Co. E, 






^: 



(> 



k 

3 



f)^\i^m^ 



^^^f^ 



u=—L. 



<:?D!l^DDf^ 




MIDLAND COUNTY 







>: 



0^ 



v) 



(^ 



22d Mich. Vol. Inf. His company was commanded 
first by Capt. Henry Carlton, and afterwards by 
Capt. H. P. Wands. His first Colonel was Moses 
M. Wisner, and his second Eber Le Favour. He 
was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, 
15th Reserve Corps. At the battle of Chickamauga> 
he was attached to tlie brigade known as the "Iron 
Brigade," commanded by Gen. Whittaker. Here he 
was taken prisoner and sent to Richmond. 

He was for two months confined in the Pemberton 
House Prison, and then he was in the Danville 
Prison until the spring of 1864. Next, he spent six 
months in that iniquitous pen, Andersonville, after 
which he was at Florence, S. C, then at Charleston, 
S. C, and Wilmington, N. C, at which latter place he 
was paroled. He was taken with the camp fever the 
next day after arriving within the Union lines, and 
was for four or five weeks confined in the hospital at 
Indianapolis. He then received a furlough of 30 
days, with orders to report at Camp Chase. At De- 
troit he received another order to return home and 
await his discharge. This he did, and soon came 
the welcome notice to report at Detroit, where he 
was finally mustered out of the military service of 
the United States June 7, 1865. 

He was reduced to a skeleton by his sufferings in 
rebeldom, and he was so weak mentally and bodily, 
and so changed by his terrible experience, that his 
neighbors did not recognize him when he returned 
from his three years' absence. 

Mr. Raymond was married in Clyde (now Kimball) 
Township, St. Clair Co., Mich., Jan. 18, 1855, to 
Sarah E. Wheaton, daughter of George M. and Har- 
riet (Bartlett) Wheaton. Mr. W. was a native of 
Canada, and died at Victoria, in that country, when 
Sarah was eight years old. Mrs. W., a native of New 
York State, died a year after her husband. Her 
father, Christopher Bartlett, was one of the first set- 
tlers of St. Clair County. He was the great wolf 
hunter of that section and literally cleared the 
county of wolves. Mrs. Raymond was born in Lon- 
don, Can., Jan. 17, 1840, and is the mother of nine 
children, seven of whom are living. 

Following is the record : George W. was born Dec. 
22, 1S55, in Kendall Township, St. Clair Co., Mich., 
and was married at Midland, April 15, 1884, to Anna 
Grice ; Chancy B. was born Oct. 4, 1857, in St. Clair 
County, and was married Sept. 25, 1883, to Delia R 




Wright; Collins E. was born Dec. 3, 1859, in same 
county; Wallace L. was born Dec. 28, 1861, in same 
county; Elmer E. was born March 8, 1867, and 
died April 16 following, in same county; Lillian E. 
was born Oct. 28, 1868, in Lincoln (now Hope) 
Township, this county; Almond J. was born July 22, 
1871, in same township, and died May 2, 1872; 
Alden N. was born Jan. 4, 1876, in same township; 
Shirley C. was born Aug. 8, 1879, in same township. 
Mr. R. is in political sentiment a Republican. He 
has been Highway Commissioner one term and 
Sciiool Inspector two years. 



^{ I^Sharles Smith, farmer, lumberman and 
^iW.^s^ blacksmith, resident on section 34, Homer 
y^ Township, was born Dec. 9, 1842, in On- 

PJM tario. Can. His parents, Charles and Mary 

I (Labreche) Smith, are natives of Ontario, 
and are respectively of Irish and French extraction. 
They yet reside in the Dominion and are 64 and 74 
years old. Of 13 children born to them 12 are 
living. 

Mr. Smith is the third child and eldest son of his 
parents, and resided at home until he was 1 4 years 
old, when he went into the lumber woods. He con- 
tinued to operate as a lumberman in his native prov- 
ince until he was 24 years old, when he came to 
Bay Co., Mich., and was similarly engaged on the 
Rifle River six years. In 1869 he made another 
transfer to Midland County, and spent two years 
lumbering on the Pine River. He then bought 40 
acres of land in the township of Homer, on which he 
settled and began the work of clearing and improv- 
ing. He remained thereon about 18 months, when 
he went to Midland and remained nine years, opera- 
ting as a farmer summers and as a lumberman win- 
ters. At the end of the period named he returned to 
liis farm, to which he had added 123 acres, and now 
has one of the most valuable and desirable farms on 
the Pine River. He has 63 acres under advanced 
cultivation, with good residence and barns. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican. 

Mr. Smith was first married March i, 1871, in 
Midland County, to Delilah Stevenson. She was 
one of the first white children born in the county 



«^ 









/^ 



-^^^ — ^-^^^n nsn n^'^'r^ — ^^^^ 



-^j 




^/^®)$^r#* 



V 



<iM'^\ 



;'•) 

^ 
^ 



2 



^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



■:2^Tii^c^ 



and died June 8, 1876, in Midland village. She 
left two children: Charles, born March 4, 1873, and 
George, born July 3, 1S75. Mr. Smith was again 



married Feb. 



1S79, in Porter Township, to 



Charity, daughter of Daniel and Phebe (McCall) 
Walsh. Her parents are natives of Ontario, Can., 
and are respectively of Scotch and Irish descent. 
The daughter is the eldest of nine children born to 
her parents, and is a native of Norfolk Co., Can. 
She was born Nov. 28, 1S58, and accompanied her 
parents to Michigan when she was 19 years old. 
They have since returned to their native province. 
She has been the mother of three children: William, 
born Jan. 2, 1S82, and an infant daughter, May 21, 
1884; Freddie, born April 4, 1880, died July 25, 
1881. 



•MiesmM^T' 



ps|;#^4— x-Sl^i/OTaiv. 



\Z 



-''S'H^iilamuel Mills, farmer and manufacturer of 
\ k-'b^'f lumber and shingles on section 26, Hope 
•(]!iw>^'^ Township, was born in Nova Scotia, Aug. 
>lw^ 24, 1820, the son of Peter and Phebe (Williams) 
Mills. The father was born about 1795 in 
Nova Scotia, and died in Southwould, Can., 
Nov. 17, 1856. The mother was born in the Prov- 
ince of Nova Scotia in 1799, and di6d also in South- 
would, Can. Samuel's grandparents, who were of 
the same surname but no connection, were natives 
of the State of New York. 

The subject of this narrative came to Southwould, 
Ont., in 1870 — one year later than his parents. 
There he rented a farm, which he cultivated on 
shares. In 1857 he came to Macomb Co., Mich., 
where for four years he was similarly engaged ; and 
then he came to Midland County, arriving Oct. 5, 
1861. For a few months he lived in a shanty near 
his present farm, while he erected a good log house 
and made a little clearing. There were then no 
regularly laid out roads, and he made his way to his 
new home over an old lumber trail. He first home- 
steaded 40 acres ; but he has since added by pur- 
chase two forties on the east, one on the west and 
one on the south, making a fine farm of 200 acres, 
of which 70 are improved. He operates also a saw 
and shnigle mill, with a circular saw, and is able to 
cut 10,000 feet of luniber and 25,000 to 30,000 shin^ 




gles per day. He has dealt considerably in real 
estate at different times. 

Jan. 9, 1849, in Nova Scotia, he formed a life part- 
nership with Miss Sarah Fillmore, daughter of Will- 
iam and Sarah (Hollis) Fillmore. Mr. and Mrs. 
F. were of English descent, natives of the Province 
of Nova Scotia, and died in Southwould, Ont., the 
former in November, i88r, and the latter Sept. 12, 
18S1. Mrs. Mills was born in Nova Scotia, Feb. 26, 
1827, and is the mother of 11 children. Three are 
deceased, and five sons and three daughters survive. 
Following is the record: Josiah, born Oct. 5, 1849, 
in Nova Scotia; William H., Sept. 27, 185 1, in Can- 
ada; Stephen, June 20, 1853, in Canada; Welling- 
ton, Aug. 20, 1855, in Canada; Burton, April 9, 
1857, in Canada; Sarah M., July 8, i860, in Ma- 
comb Co., Mich.; Edwin, Nov. 22, 1863, in Lincoln 
(now Hope) Township; Phebe A., Feb. 22, 1866, in 
the same township; Priscilla R., May 22, 187 1, 
in Hope Township. Freeman, an infant, died when 
nine months old, and an unnamed infant died two 
days after birth. 

The parents were formerly members of the Chris- 
tian Church. Mr. Mills is politically a Greenbacker, 
and has been Township Clerk three terms, Justice 
of the Peace two terms, or eight years. Township 
Treasurer one term, and Highway Commissioner 
two terms. 

For four or five years after settling in this county, 
he obtained but fecv of his supplies at Midland, go- 
ing to Saginaw for most of them. He would go to 
Edenville, and then go in a canoe down the Tittaba- 
wassee. Loading up with his purchases, he then 
poled back. When night overtook him, he hitched 
his boat and camped out. Arrived at Edenville, his 
supplies were transported in whatever manner was 
most convenient, over lumber trails, to his home. 




^[^^fcacob Hager, farmer, section t,t„ Lincoln 
jj^^t? Township, was born Feb. 29, 1820, in Erie 

i^T ^^■' ^^"' ^""^ ^^ ''■ ^°" °^ George Hager. 
'^s£ His mother is deceased and his father resides 

^U with a son in the Keystone State. The pa- 
\ rents were natives of that State, and about the 
year 1832 the father received an injury which ren- 
dered him unable to support his family for a time, 









( ■': 



(^ 



m! 






^y^nm 



(i[i;> 



d. 



-si^^ 



-«i^^^^ 







mmm^^ 



256 



■rrr 

MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^4^^^ 



(' 






6 



and their maintenance absorbed the earninj^s of the 
son until he was 21 years of age. 

On the arrival of that period he engaged in farm- 
ing and bought a tract of land half a mile from his 
father's location, where he maintained his own do- 
mestic affairs after the method commonly styled 
"keeping bachelor's hall," until he was 25 years old ; 
then he sold his farm and came to Milford, Mich., 
where he remained two months, assisting in the con- 
struction of a grist-mill, for which he hewed the 
timbers. He then came to the Saginaw Valley, 
where he spent two years with the Indians, engaged 
in their pursuits — hunting, fishing and trapping. He 
succeeded in securing a livelihood, which was the 
extent of his success. He then engaged in lumber- 
ing in the winter, and began to prepare for better for- 
tunes by the purchase of 21 acres of Government 
land, five miles above his present location, upon 
which he spent the summer seasons in clearing. He 
afterwards added 24, 44 and 74 acres by successive 
purchases, and ke|)t |the property about ten years, 
when he came to the place where he has since been 
located, and bought 64 acres, to which he afterward 
added 40 acres. He is the proprietor of the tract 
still, and has cleared 60 acres. Mr. Hager came to 
the county of Midland in 1847, and believes himself 
to be the first permanent white settler now living in 
the county. 

He has been married three times. His first wife 
was Mena Titmore, to whom he was married May i, 
1856. One daughter, Anna, was born by this union, 
Feb. 4, 1857, who is now living in California. He 
was a second time married in September, 1857, to 
Louisa Snyder, who died June 10, 1877. Albert, 
only issue of this marriage, was born March 28, 1858. 
Mr. Hager was again married July 8, 1878, to Gene- 
vieve Hecht, widow of George Hecht, who died 
Aug. 25, 187 1, in Homer Township, Midland County. 
She was born Dec. 18, 1822, in Austria. 

/ \) ;'\).;^uncan Wayne, farmer, and Supervisor of 






F 



Mt. Haley Township, resident on section 
4, was born in Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ont., 
pi» Jan. 7, 1858. His father, John Wayne, was 
^ born in England and was a distiller by voca- 
\ tion. The mother, Elizabeth (Wilson) Wayne, 

was a native of Ontario, Can. The fatlier died Jan. 




20, 1859, in Ontario. The mother is 58 years of age 
and resides with her son in Mt. Haley Township. 
She is now Mrs. Vanderburg. 

In 1868, accompanied by his mother and step- 
father, Mr. Wayne came to Michigan, settling first at 
St. Charles, Saginaw County. Later on, they went 
to the city of Saginaw, returning thence to St. Charles. 
In the spring of 1872 he located on Pine River in 
Homer Township, and in the spring following they 
purchased So acres of land in Mt. Haley Township. 
It was all in heavy timber, and the estate now in- 
cludes 120 acres, with 70 acres improved and culti- 
vated. Its value is greatly increased by the erection 
of a fine barn 34 by 50 feet, and a good convenient 
residence, which latter is now in process of construc- 
tion. Mr. Wayne has yet to consummate the most 
important epoch of his life, and is securing the fairest 
prospects by his correct habits and stable character- 
He is a zealous Republican of wide influence, and 
has held the position of School Director since April, 
1S80. He has recently l)een elected School Inspector 
and Township Supervisor. 

(K^M#5 illiam Vance, farmer, section 20, Midland 
i LjyM' Township, is a son of William and Mar- 
_ * gs^ret (Gordon) Vance, who were of Irish 
'^> ancestry. He was born in Monroe Co., N. 
Y., Jan. 22, 1836; when 13 years of age he 
came to Saginaw County and about three years 
later to Midland County. He has been engaged in 
various occupations for several years, principally lum- 
bering on the river and farming. In 1859 he pur- 
chased a quarter-section of land, which he afterward 
sold; and lie has since bought and sold several tracts 
of land. In 1866 he purchased 40 acres, on which 
he has since resided. He has sold ten acres of this 
place, and all the remainder is in a good state of cul- 
tivation. 

Mr. ^'ance was married in Midland, March 21, 
1855, to Lucy M., daughter of John and Sarah (Sny- 
der) Wyman, the former of whom was a native of 
Vermont and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mrs. \'. 
was born in Midland City, Dec. 14, 1839. The 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Vance are, Charles H., 
John B., Emma L., Lillie M., Frederick E. and Mar- 
garet J. 



I 
I 



9 









t 



\^^ 



mL 



<^ii!i^iiaii> 



z. 




^ 



mh/^^^^^- 






•^ 



V 






1 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






if^ 



-«®^ 



f^t^^f^H 



257 



Mr. Vance and his wife are niembers of tiie Baptist 
Church, and on national issues Mr. V. is in sympathy 
witli the National party. 



(b 




^i pg^-h^i'l^" S- Brown, general farmer, section 
2 1, Jasper Township, and acting Post- 
master of Pleasant Valley, was born in Sidney 
Township, Hastings Co., Ont., Feb. 28, 1819. 
His ftither, John Brown, was a native of New 
England, and his mother, Anna (Myers) 
Brown, was born on the " Genesee Flats," near the 
Mohawk River, in New York, of New England an- 
cestry. His father was a miller by occupation, and 
died in Belleville, Ont., in 1831 ; and his mother in 
Murray Township, Ont., in 1862. In their family 
were four sons and two daughters; two of the former 
died in Ontario, after they were married. They were 
all natives of Canada, and the living are still residing 
in the Dominion, except the subject of this sketch, 
and one sister, now living at Rochester, N. Y. 

Charles S., the third child and second son, was 12 
years old when his father died, and he had to help 
support the bereft family by working at farm labor. 
May 30, 1848, in his native county, he was married 
to Hester A. Lott, second daughter and third child of 
George and Hannah (Barager) Lott, both deceased, 
in Sidney Township, Ont., their native place, — the 
former in i86g, aged 74, and the latter in 1871, aged 
66. In their family were three sons and four daugh- 
ters ; two of the former and one of the latter are de- 
ceased. Mrs. Brown was born in Sidney Township, 
April 25, 1825. The following are the three children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Brown: John E., born July 29, 
1850, married, Nov. 24, 1873, Miss Louisa Christ- 
man, a native of Gratiot County., Mich., and has one 
child, James C; George N., born Dec. 7, 1852, mar- 
ried, in Jasper Township, June i, 1873, Miss Mary 
A.'Turner, a native of Wisconsin (see sketch of Sam- 
uel Turner); and Nancy M., born Oct. 29, 1862, 
married, Nov. 7, 1883, Clayton A. Davis, a native of 
Hillsdale Co., Mich., and resides in Coe Township, 
Isabella Co., Mich. All the above mentioned belong 
to the farming community, — John E. and George N. 
Brown in Jasper Township. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. B. lived in 
Hastings Co., Out., until 1869, then two years in 







^ 



Cm 



c< 



Saginaw City, Mich., and since that time in this 
county, settling on a quarter-section of land. In 
connection with his son, he now has 240 acres. He 
has dealt considerably in real estate, having bought 
and sold i,ooo acres of land. Although not a stick 
had been cut when he first located here, he now has 
a good farm of 75 acres of well improved land. Many 
wearisome seasons, too, has he had to contend with 
the disagreeable features of a swampy county, — 
water, mud and mosquitoes. The latter were so nu- 
merous and noisy at times tha' they had to be 
smoked away from the premises by " smudges," so 
that the people of the house could hear the tinkling 
of the cow-bells in the roads not far distant. Even 
the Sunday-schools, held in the primitive log school- 
house by pioneers, had to be guarded by " pillars of 
smoke" by day, to keep off the ''pesky critters" 
SLifficiently to enable the teachers an'd children to 
proceed with any degree of progress. 

March 5, 1875, when the family were all absent, 
a fire consumed Mr. Brotvn's dwelling, with all its 
contents, leaving not even a second suit of clothing 
for any of the family, and entailing a loss of about 
feoo. 

Mr. Brown is a staunch Republican in his political ^ 
views, and he has been Township Treasurer four «^ 
years. Highway Commissioner three years, and has *^ 
held other offices. He and his wife have been zeal- ( .] 
ous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 
the last five years. 



HQ= 



f ndrew J. Davis, general farmer and lum- 
berman, section 14, Lee Township, was 
"■ born in Chenango Co., N. Y., March 3, 
1849. His parents, Washington and Adaline 
(Shepherd) Davis, were also natives of the 
Empire State, but of New England ancestry. 
They are both still living, in charge of their sons, 
the former in Illinois and the latter in New York, 
aged respectively 65 and 67. The father came to 
this country in 1873, and after three years went to 
Illinois. 

When 22 years of age, Andrew J. enlisted in the 
Union army, Sept. 15, 1861, and served over three 
years, participating in the battles of Corinth, Shiloh 
and Atlanta, and was discharged in November, 1864- 



^c^na^iBf^^^^^ — ^^&^ 





Il# 



■^V<>I]tl:^DII^>v 



ry 



-^<^m\^ 



258 



MID LA NJ) CO UNT V. 



During the next n.onth he came to Michigan and 
bought .-i i|u;irlcr of scclion 14, I,ec Township, 
where he has since lived, followin}^ Uimbeiing to a 
considerable extent, especially during the winter 
seasons. Of his farm he has inii)roved 60 acres, 
adding the necessary buildings. 

Mr. Davis has just closed his third term as Super- 
visor of his Township, has been School Inspector, 
and is now Drain Commissioner, Justice of the Peace 
and Township Treasurer. In res[)ect to national 
affairs he votes witli the Republicans. 



/ 



'J 



(q^ 



11 



y/ 
/s 



^J^> 



M^ 




'4 



ndrew J. Martin, general farmer, section 
^^^Ji .3°> J'isper Township, of which township he 
^7 is at i)resent also Supervisor, was born in Port- 
r age Co., Ohio, July 22, 1839. His father, 
Thomas Martin, a native of Ohio, was of 
.}^ I-higlisli-Irish descent, a farmer by vocation, lived in 
r— r Ohio until 1860, when he came to this county and 
y^ took 240 acres of land under the Pre-emption .'\cl, 
CT on section 30, Jasper Township, where he has ever 
S/^ since resided. He was one of the first settlers in 
> this township. He is 79 years of age, yet hale and 
active. Andrew's mother, Mary, nee Craig, was born 
on the Atlantic Ocean wliile her parents were on 
their way to this country from Ireland. They located 
in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in which county Mrs. M. 
died, in 1849, aged 37. 

The subject of this sketch was the first son and 
second child in the above family of five children ; 
until of age he was engaged on his father's farm in 
his native county. Oct. 6, 18C0, in Sliaron, Pa., he 
married Miss Alvira Waterman, who was born in 
Warren, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1837, of New England 
parentage and of English and German ancestry. 
She lived at home, and ten years with Rev. Isaac 
Errett, who preached President (jarfield's funeral 
sermon. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Martin are: 
Robert, Charles, Alice, John and Lucy, besides Mary, 
Addison and Lottie, deceased. 
^ One year after marriage, Mr. Martin enlisted in 

W/ Co. I, Sixth Ohio Vol. Cav., of the Army of the 
Cumberland, commanded by Gen. Pope. He was 
discharged May 30, 1862, before he had partici[)ated 
in any action on the field; but April 27, 1864, he re- 



enlisted in the 17 ist Ohio National Guards, and took 

part in several engagements. He was captured by 
John Morgan, at Cynthiana, Ky., July 11, 1864, but 
was sh(jrtly afterward paroled. He then served on 
guard duty until the expiration of his enlistment. 

Honorably discharged Aug. 20, 1864, he returned 
to Warren, Ohio, where he served as engineer until 
March, 1866, when he came to this county and set- 
tled on 80 acres of section 30, Jasper Township, 
which he had purchased three years previously and 
where he still resides. Here he has improved 35 
acres and erected all necessary farm buildings. He 
is at present Supervisor, which office he has held 
every year since 1873, excepting the year 1877. He 
has also been Highway Commissioner three years, 
1868-72, Townshi[) Clerk, and has held all the 
minor offices. He maintains the Republican plat- 
form with regard to national affairs. 



••<-^-'##-^^>- 




mained with him for about six months, when b.e again 
returned home and once more went to work in the 
mill. 

January 8, i860, Mr. Simons was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Ursula, daughter of Caleb and Pris- 
cilla (Roberts) Ray. Her father was of English 
descent and died June 6, 1853, in Middleton, Can., 
and lier mother is living in Bad Axe, Huron ('ounty, 
this State. She was married a second time and is 
now living with her second husband, Mr. Joseph 
Watson, at the jilace named. 

Mrs. Simons was born Dec. 15, 1842, and is one 
of six children of her father's family, all of whom 



v|) 



9 

^ 

A 

;p^!ii^dwin Simons, residing in Coleman, War- ° 
1 4^";.; rcn 'I'ownship, was born near Grand Rap- ^ 
•■'''' ids, this State, Oct. 22, 1838. = 

His parents were John K. and Margaret (Hop- 
kins) Simons. (See sketch of T. B. Simons). 
Edwin was brought up under the parental 
roof-tree, in Canada, and worked on his father's farm 
and in saw and shingle mills until he attained the 
age of 19 years, when he went forth to fight the bat- 
tles of life single-handed and alone. He engaged 
to learn the mason's trade, but did not remain long 
at it. He returned home and worked in the mill for 
a while, and then went to London, Can., where he 
engaged with a brother-in-law in a bakery. He re- 



r 






r 



Mm^m'iy' 



Uii- 



.-s^^p^ 





mamsT^smnKK^ 









y/ij^yK&yi/ a/i^ y^hr^L,o4.^_^ 




-z^K — ^^v4^ti ii>: n nr^v^e? — :3^&^ 



-H8S« 



^$^ 



^ 







:aj 






(^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



are living. She is the mother, to Mr. Simons, of 
eiglit children The living are: John K., born 
Jan. i8, 1861, in Walsingham, Can.; Mary A., born 
June 26, 1865, in Walsingham; Walter William, 
born Jnne 30, 1868, in \Valsingham ; Thomas L., 
born Aug. 22, 1877, in Coleman, this Slate; Edwin, 
born June 15, 1881, in Coleman. The deceased are 
Mattie S., born July 22, 1870, and died Nov. 30, 
1872; Norton F., born July 3, 1863. died March 7, 
1883; and an infant twin sister of Edwin died when 
II hours old. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Simons were members of thfj 
Methodist Episcopal Churcli while residents of Can- 
ada, but have not united, since coming to this State, 
with the Church. 

Mr. Simons, politically, is a Republican, and 
socially is a member of the Masonic Order, being a 
Master Mason. 




lOses B. Marsh, farmer, section 26, Homer 
Townshi|), was born April 20, 1830, in 
Chautauqua County, N. Y. His parents, 
■\ Mason and Lavinia (Creel) Marsh, were na- 
'i^' tives of New England, of English ancestors, 
and were among the earliest settlers in Chau- 
tauqua County. Tire family descent is traced to two 
brothers who came to the New World in the "good 
old colony times." The father was a General during 
the Florida War of 1S3S. They removed in 1842 to 
Crawford Co., Pa., and two years later went to Ashta- 
bula Co., Ohio, where the mother died in 1854, and 
the father in 1856. 

Mr. Marsh remained with his parents as long as 
they lived, and managed the homestead property 
until the fall of 1868, when he purchased 120 acres 
of land where he now resides. It was all in a wild, 
unbroken condition, and in the midst of a wilderness. 
The exact condition of things may be apprehended 
from the fact that soon after their arrival a daughter 
of Mr. Marsh, aged 13 years, killed a deer which 
had been chased by a dog upon the drive in the 
river. The animal could not run over the logs, and 
she followed it with an ax, with which she killed it by 
a blow on the head. 

Mr. Marsh has now 35 acres of his farm under 
cultivation. In the year 1883 he conducted the 




Desermia House at Ithaca. He has held the offices 
of Justice of the Peace for eight years, has been 
Township Clerk three years, and Highway Com- 
missioner two terms, besides holding the minor local 
offices. He is a Republican in ])olilical connection. 

Mr. Marsh was married July 30, 1855, in Ashta- 
bula Co., Ohio, to Nancy, daughter of James and 
Almira (Herrick) Sargent. She was born May 18, 
1836, in Pittsfield, Mass. Her parents removed, 
when she was about 18 months old, to Erie Co., Pa. 
and later to Ashtabula Co., Ohio. She was at that 
time 13 years old and obtained the greater part of 
her education in the Buckeye State. Following is 
the record of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Marsh: Adell was born Jan. 26, 1S59, and was mar- 
ried Sept. 24, 1877, to George Freeland, a native of 
Saginaw Co., Mich., and a farmer of Homer Town- 
ship, by whom she has become the mother of one 
child — Pearl — born July 21, 1878. Lavinia was 
born March 21, 1863, and was married in November, 
1883, to William Fox, now resident at St. Louis, this 
State. Louis was born March 22, 1867; May Belle, 
Aug. 30, 1870; James L., Dec. 18, 1876. == 

The ijortraits of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh form valua- ^» 
ble additions to the collection of likenesses of promi- = 
nent personages in Midland County, and are given Si/ 
on pages in proximity to this sketch. 






(^ 



f=L!23d±ii3_ 



If: ewis Rogers, farmer, section 17, Warren 
li Township, was born in Saginaw Co., Mich.^ 
■ Iflp^ Sept. 18, 1854, and is a son of Henry D. 
and Rebecca (Ellsworth) Rogers. His father 
\ was born in Litciifield Co., Conn., June 20, 
1817, and died March 7, 1875. His ancestry 
was English. Lewis' mother was born March 1, 
1818, in the town of Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y. 
(calls herself a " Yankee "), and came to Midland 
County in 1862. She is now living with her daugh- 
ter, Nettie, in this county, but she visits around 
among her children. She has had 14 children, — 
four at one birth, which, however, died before they 
were a month old. 

Mr. Rogers, the subject of this sketch, remained 
at home until of age, when, Jan. i, 1876, he married 
Miss Lucy L., daughter of Samuel and Martha 
(Putnam) Ellsworth. Mr. E., a Yankee of Puritan 




<^I]!]^[|tl<^ 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



<®vi 



<h 



slo-k, died in r862; and Mrs. E.,of (ierman descent, 
died at the age of 37, when licr daughter was very 
young. In tlieir family were seven children, besides 
two half brothers. Mrs. R. was born March 25, 
1854. The children of Mr. and Mrs. R. are: 11. 
Lee, born Nov. 3, 1876, in Midland; Clifffird Iv, 
horn Dec. 26, 1879, died May 10, 1880; and Lewis 
Alton, born Sept. 5, 1881, in Coleman. 

Mr. R. in politics is a Republican, and he has 
held the oflicc of Highway Commissioner one term. 



-•^-^ 



"\ 




1=2 



eorge O. Rockwell, lumberman and 
dealer in real estate, resident at Midl.uul 
■^vT" City, was born Aug. 29, 1848, at Cam- 
^J' bridge, Crawford Co., Pa. His father, n.irius 
'.\ Rockwell, was also a farmer by o;;cupition, a 
' native of the Key-stone State, and was barn 
. June 28, 1816. l";ieazer, father of Darius Rockwell, 

/\ was born in the State of New York, was a man o 
active business habits and took a dee[) interest in the 
issues of the jieriod in which he lived. Me was a 
soldier of 1S12, and i)articipated in the battles at 
Erie, and at Waterford, N. Y. He was of English 
parentage, and oi)eratcd heavily in lumber and as an 

(\\ agriculturist, being the jiroprietor of 800 acres of 

^ land. Darius Rockwell married lumice Herrick, who 
was born in Tiltsfield, Mass., Aug. 17, 1821. 

Cieorge Rockwell attained to the age of 16 years 
in his native place, passing the seasons in alternate 
attendance at school and in farm labor. The locality 
where he lived and the circumstances by which he 
was s\irrounded, awakened and kept alive his interest 
in the progress of public affairs after the Southern 
Rebellion had become a substantial fact. He was a 
mere boy wlien the re-echoes of the first shot at 
Sumter n)useil the natives of the earth to a conscious- 
ness that the death-knell of property in man was 
sounding, and the sensation he experienced only be- 
came more intense as the fruitless months succeeded 

';^' each other, and the Nation seemed in the throes of 
dissolution. Mr. Rockwell became a soldier for the 
Union in his sixteenth year, Feb. 25, 1864, enlisting 
in Co. E, Second Pa. Cav., Capt. Swartz. The com- 
mand, under Col. Briton, was assigned to the Second 
Brigade, Second Division, Army of the I'olomac, 
Maj.-Gen. Gregge commanding. He was in the 



service until he received honorable discharge, July 
26, 1865, at Philadelphia, and was a personal partic- 
i[)ant in the following battles: Ashland Station, 
May II, 1864; before Richmond, May 12; Hanover 
Ferry, May 28; Old Cluirch Tavern, May 30; Cold 
Harbor, June 2; Franklin Station, June 11 and 12; 
Prosjiecl Hill, June 21, 1864; Jerusalem Plank Road, 
July 12; Malvern Hill, July 28; Lee's Mills, July 
30; White-Oak Swamii, Aug. 14 and 15 ; Deep Bot- 
tom, Aug. 15 and 16; Charles City Cross-Roads, 
Aug. 18; Reams' Station, A\ig. 23 and 25; VVyatt 
House, Sept. 29 and Oct. i ; Boydtown Plank Road, 
Oct. 27; Stony Creek, Dec. i; and Hatcher's Run, 
l'"eb. 6, 1865. During the week succeeding the last 
named engagement his regiment was detailed to take 
pari in the raid on the VVeldon Railroad, in which 30 
miles of track were destroyed and the bridge burned 
across the Roanoke River. Mr. Rockwell was in 
the final fight before Petersburg. After the last 
battle his regiment was on provost duty until it was 
mustered out of the United States service. 

He returned home and passed the nine months in 
forced inaction from disability, resulting from priva- 
tions and exposure. After regaining his health to 
some extent he attended school one winter, and in 
the following summer, that of 1866, he joined his 
brother-in-law, Daniel Herrick, in Ashtabula Co., 
f)hio. He remained there until the following Octo- 
ber, when, in company with a cousin, Charles Her- 
rick, he made an overland trip to Midland City, 
making the journey hither with a two-horse team. 
He was ill two weeks after his arrival, and on recov- 
ery found employment so scarce as to admit of no 
choice. He took advantage of the first thing that 
presented, and for a fortnight struggled with a hod, 
endeavoring to accomplish his duties with skill and 
courage. At the expiration of 14 days he engaged 
as a lumlierman with Ceorge I'rost and remained in 
his eui|)loynient until spring. About that time the 
educational |)rojcct of ('ornell became matter of 
newspaper comment, and Mr. Rockwell proceeded to 
Ithaca, N. Y., to make personal a|)plication for a 
situation in the manual-labor dcpartnienl, whereby a 
scholarship might be secured. lUit he was preceded 
by a retinue of applicants, much greater than could 
be accommodated, and soon after he returned to 
Michigan. He engaged in the lumber woods in the 
employment of John Sias (see sketch), where he 



c 
1 

% 



^^^^^ ^^<:[I !l'^'DIlf>^^ ^^^ 




^^ 



l)5^#- 



TSr-7<^^DD^im^^v^^ :^^»sr 



jj 



i 



\ 



O 

^ 

o* 






) 



r^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



265 




operated until the spring of 1868. At that date he 
began to take contracts in the lumber business and 
to conduct matters in liis own interest. Later on he 
became a clerk in the sloic of Dr. Whitehouse, and 
during thai period lie bought aloton Ellsworth Street 
and built a dwelling. He sold the property and 
engaged in tjie grocery and provision trade, in which 
he was interested about three months. He disposed 
of that business and embarked in the manufacture 
of shingles, in which he operated nearly five years. 
In 1.S73 he sold out and bought 165 acres of land in 
Homer 'I'ownship, which he occui)ied and managed 
until 1.S76. In that year, associated with James 
Herrick and John R. Evans, he built the first grist- 
mill in Midland County, and named after Midland 
C'ity, where it is located. Two years later he and 
Mr. Herrick became sole projirietors by puvchasiug 
the interest of Mr. Evans. They continued its 
management one year, when the business finn of 
James Herrick & Co. was formed. 

The concern sunk a salt well and built a salt block. 
The relation existed until March, 1881, when Mr. 
Rockwell sold his claim and bought 180 acres of 
land in the township of Ingersoll. He retained the 
l)roperty until the spring of 1S82, when he sold and 
embarked in real-estate and lumber business. In 
political mailers Mr. Rockwell is a Rejiublican of 
decided principles. His marriage to Jessie F. Dean 
occurred Dec. 20, 1.S7 i. She w,is born June 23, 1856, 
in Herkshire Co., Mass., and is the daughter of Ben- 
jamin and Jerusha Dean (see sketch of Benjamin 
Dean). T-enora Iv, eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. 
Rockwell, was born Sc)jI. 27, ICS74, and died July 
20, 1876; Dewey Dean was born Sept. 20, 1876; 
liennie D. was born March 15, 1880, and died July 
15 of the same year. 

"'|<3^> ilas E. Wright, farmer on section 34, Hope 



^^m\ Township, was born in Gramme, Ont., Oct. 
k^-" 7> '836, the son of Ebeii and Lucy (Mc 
\^^ Allister) Wright. (See sketch of Eben Wright.) 
I He came with his parents to this State in 1855, 
and lived for three and a half years in St. 
Clair County, on a rented farm. From St. Clair 
County they came to this County in 1858. After 
one year in what is now Edenville Township, they 



settled on the present homestead, where Mr. Wright '^ 
has since lived. /^ 

He was married Se[)t. 30, i860, to I^ouisa Erway, ^^^ 
daughter of Daniel and Hilah (Clark) Erway. Mr. % 
Fj. is deceased, and Mrs. E., 78 years old, and nearly Jk 
blind, lives with her son Sylvester. Mrs. Wright was 
born Oct. 25, 1843, in Steuben Co., N. Y. She is the 
mother of 11 children, as follows: Sibyl .\., born 
April 25, 1861 ; Delia R., Oct. 16, 1862; I<:dgar L., 
Dec. 14, 1864; Cierlrude A., March 31, 1867; Eben 
D., Feb. 8, 1869: Walter M., July 16, 187 i ; Bertha 
Kate, Sejit. 6, 1873; Albert, March 10, 1876; I'klna 
A., -Sept. 23, 1878; Elsie R., Dec. 8, 1S80; Clara M., 
Feb. 27, 1883. They were all born in Ho|ie Townslii|). 

Mr. W. is in political matters a suppoiterof the 
Republican party. He has been Justice of the Peace 
several years, and Highway Commissioner three 
years. He and wife are members of the Christian 
C'liurch. 




J 



:< 



O. Mcrarland, merchant at Averill, and 

propiielor of the Hamilton House, was 

liiun [uly 9, 1856, in Hancock C'o., Me. He 

A-.'" is the son of Charles and Mary Eli/.aljeth (Hig- 

^^ gins) McFarland. His father is a sea captain 

and resides in the I'ine-Tree State. His 

mother died in i 860, in the county of Hancock in 

that State. 

Mr. McFarland was but four years old when his 
mother died, and he went to live with his grand- 
parents, in whose charge he remained until he was 
15 years of age. In 1861 he went to Ellsworth in 
his native State, where he continued about one year, 
officiating as a clerk in a mercantile establishment. 
He was again employed in a similar manner in tlie 
same place, and a few months afterward went to 
Bangor, where he served ujjwards of a year as a 
clerk, going thence to Boston, Mass., where he 
became connected with the Oriental Tea Store as 
traveling salesman. Less than a year later he termi- fp) 
nated that connection and returned to EUswoith, I 
Me., and passed a year in the caijacity of a sales- tih 
man. His next remove was to Kingsfield, Franklin 
Co., Me., where he spent one winter in the lumber ^- 
woods. In 1876 he came to Midland (Jounly, where 
he has since resided. The first winter he passed in 



i^V|))f^#*- 



u— 



^mm^ 



A^. 




^ 



<^I1I1^IjD^>' 



j66 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-z^^^ 



> 




the lumber woods and the two succeeding he engaged 
in teaching. He was occupied [Kirt of tlie time 
summers in a store at Midland, and the remainder of 
the time he followed the river. On the first day of 
May, 1 88 1, he went into business with Messrs. 
Wright & Ketchum, and has since been associated 
with them as an employe. He is a Republican in 
political sentiment and is serving his second year as 
Township Clerk ; he also holds the [wsition of Justice 
of the Peace. 

Mr. McFarland was married Aug. i, 1883, at 
Toledo, Ohio, to Clara A.,, daughter of Caleb J. and 
Cynthia A. (Blakely) Mallory. Her parents reside 
at Smith's Creek, St. Clair Co., Mich. 

-(OS — 

f^Pf^ben Wright, retired farmer on section 17, 
^:iL5^^ Hope Township, was born May 14, 1800, 
^j^p in Addison, Addison Co., Vt., the son of 
Ebenezer and Polly (Warren) Wright. Ebenezer 
Wright was of English descent, was born about 
1776, and hved most of his life in Vermont, in 
the pursuit of agriculture. He died at Bredport, Vt., 
aged 68. His first wife was of English descent, and 
died about 1807. He had by this marriage two 
daughters, and by a subsequent marriage he was the 
father of two daughters and a son. 

The subject of this sketch was the eldest of his 
father's firmily, was reared on the paternal farm, and 
at the age of 18 went forth into the world to seek his 
fortune. He first lived for a few years in Canton, 
N. Y., with his uncle Caleb. Marrying, he bought 
50 acres in Canton, where lie lived five years. He 
then sold and moved to t'anada, where he rented a 
farm and also worked in a saw-mill for seven or eight 
years. At the end of this time he came to St. Clair 
Co., Mich., and worked a farm on shares, with George 
Bowman, for four years. 

In the spring of 1858 he came to Midland County 
and settled on the Tittabawssee River in what is now 
Edenville Township. He remained there with his 
family one year, working on land belonging to Mr. 
Egbert. The next year he moved on the same place 
where he now resides. At that time, he tells, there 
were at Midland City two dwellings and one store. 
The latter was kept by James Eastman, who lived in 
one house, while John Larkin's residence was in the 




other. Mr. Wright purchased 160 acres, at the rate 
of 50 cents per acre. His deed was signed by Presi- 
dent James Buchanan. He retained 40 acres of this 
tract, having given the remainder to his son. He has 
improved 30 acres. 

He was first married in Canton, N. Y., Jan. 9, 
1820, to Rowena Abbott, who was born Sept. 12, 
r8oo, and died June 6, 1825, leaving two daughters. 
One of these is yet living, at Gramme, Can. He was 
again married in Canton, Feb. 8, 1827, to Lucy Mc- 
Allister, who was born .\ug. 17, 1796, and died Feb. 
23, 1863, leaving two children. One of these is Silas 
E. Wright, and the other died in 1884. He was 
married the last time Feb. 23, 1865, to Mrs. Mc- 
Allister. She was born Dec. 12, 1S12, and was first 
married in November, 1835, to L. McAllister, who 
was born Aug. 24, 1804, and died July i, 1861. 
Eight children resulted from this union, and si.\ of 
them are now living. 

Mr. Wright's children were born as follows : Ame- 
lia M., March 5, r822; Sarah E., Dec. ra, 1823; Lu- 
cinda R., Dec. 21, 1827; Emily I., Jan. i, 1832: 
Silas E., Oct. 7, 1836. Mrs. Wright's children, by 
her first marriage, were born as follows : David W., 
Dec. 22, 1837; Isabella, Aug. 14, 1841 ; Mandana, 
July 18, 1843; Emma A., April 13, 1845; Judith, 
Oct. I, 1846; Lucia O., Sept. 28, 184S; Lena, July 
1,1852. 

Mr. Wright commenced chewing tobacco when 21, 
and left off at 83, having been addicted to the habit 
for 62 years. He stopped because the injurious 
effects were becoming too apparent. He was afflicted 
with hiccoughing and with pains in the stomach. It 
is 1 1 years since he has performed a full day's work; 
and he has not labored at all for si.K years. 




1 illiam Phelan, farmer, section 26, Porter 
^J9 Township, was born June 1, 1840, in the 
4|y^,0 vicinity- of the city of Toronto, Can. At 
the age of 15 years he entered upon life in 
his own interest as a common laborer on a farm 
near Hamilton, Can., and remained in tlie same 
employment ten years. At the end of that time he 
came to Micliigan, where he remained but a short 
time; proceeding lo Tazewell Co., Ill, he there 
entered tlie service of G. W. Morris, with wliom he 



&•) 



C' 



(^ 

I 

S 






(^ 



'\®^^^ 



^'^^ — ^r^c^nn^ntiy^^ 



"*^i^' 







T^4 ^ ^ ^ <s:-^UU«<:.UUs:/^ 



■^>^i<»^" 






(^ 






I 



A 



"?> 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



267 



remained two years and seven months. He next 
made a tour through Missouri and Kansas, when he 
returned to Canada for two months. Coming then 
again to Michigan for a permanent settlement, he 
entered a homestead claim for 160 acres in Porter 
Township, Midland County, on which he has since 
expended his energies, clearing and improving 40 
acres and erecting good and suitable farm buildings. 

Mr. Phelan is a Democrat in his political views, 
and he has held all the school offices in his district. 
He is at present School Inspector and has been 
Town Clerk three years. 

The first marriage of Mr. Phelan occurred Nov. 
17, 1868, when he became the husband of Eliza J. 
Adams, of Brantford, Ontario. She was born in 1840 
and became the mother of one child, Thomas J., who 
died in infancy. The mother died in Saginaw, Aug. 
16, 187c. Mr. Phelan was a second time married 
July 8, 1872, in Canada, to Rachel Oliver, daughter 
of Francis Oliver. She was born July 2, 1854. Of 
her marriage five children have been born, who are 
all living except John, the second in order of birth, 
who died Oct. 17, 1880, aged five years, three months 
and three days. Ann Rachel, Joseph and Francis 
are the survivors. The family are communicants of 
the Roman Catholic Church. 



— '«■.- 



■r9{- 



•5:harles Mills, farmer on section 26, Hojie 
'ii^^Sij Township, was born March 3, 1847, in 
PjjS' Goose Township, Cumberland Co., Nova 
dtf Scotia, and is the son of William and Sarah 
m Mills. The father died when Charles was a 
child, and the mother died in i860, in South- 
would, Can. When Charles was six years old, he 
went to live with his uncle, Harding Mills, by whom 
he was reared and with whom he lived until he 
entered the military service of the United States. 

He enlisted Nov. 28, 1862, in Co. H, 27th Mich. 
Vol. Inf., was assigned to the First Division, Ninth 
Army Corps, and was mustered out Feb. 1 1, 1865, at 
Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, D. C, on ac- 
count of a wound in the arm by a minie ball, received 
in front of Petersburg, July 30, 1864. He returned 
to the house of his uncle, and for some time worked 
either for him or for other parties. In 1870 he lo- 



cated on 40 acres where he now resides. He has 20 
acres improved. 

Sept. 4, 187 1, he was married to Susanna How- 
land, daughter of Robert G. and Mary (Davidson) 
Howland. Mr. H. was born in Canada, May 5, 1810, 
of English descent; and the mother in Canada, Nov. 
14, 1814, of Scotch and American parentage. They 
reside on a farm in Norfolk Co., Ont. Mrs. Mills 
was born June 29, 1848, in Ontario, (Jan. In politi- 
cal faith, Mr. Mills is a Greenbacker. 



evi B. Chamberlain, merchant, Lee's Cor- 
ners, Ingersoll Township, is a son of Erial 



V 




r and Mary A. (Barnes) Chamberlain, the 
J ' former a native of the Empire State and the 
latter of Ohio. After marriage the parents 
lived in .Saginaw County 15 years, and then 
located in Ingersoll Township, this county. He 
enlisted in the i6th Mich. Inf, and was in the ser- 
vice almost a year when he was stricken down with 
typhoid fever, and died Nov. i, 1864. His widow is 
now a resident of Saginaw City. In their family 
were five sons and three daughters. 

Levi B., the second son, was born in Saginaw 
County, March 30, 1843, and was 13 years old when 
the family emigrated to this county, cutting their way 
through the wild forest to their new home. Aug. 13, 
i86t, when 18 years old, he enlisted in the service 
of his country, in Co. D, i6lh Mich. Inf., and was in 
the army more than four years. Among the numer- 
ous engagements in which he participated were the 
battles of Hanover Court-House, (iaines' Mill, Mal- 
vern Hill, etc. After serving about a year he was 
transferred, on account of disability, to the Veteran 
Reserve Corps, where he remained until his discharge. 
Then for five years he mostly followed painting in 
Pennsylvania. In 1 870 he came to Lee's Corners, and 
in 1872 opened the first store at that place, which 
derived its name from his cognomen of " Lee." He 
afterward sold out that store to C. J. Winslow, and 
during the years 1873-4 he lived in Pennsylvania, 
employed at painting. Returning to the "Corners," 
he purchased a tract of land on section 35, Ingersoll 
Township, where he has since resided. In May, 
1883, he opened the store where he is at present 
prosperously engaged. Since 1879 he has carried 



V 






7 



% 




m 



'tf^* 



rr 



f;^ 



■vc» 



(A; 



268 



ro 



V 



4 



(^ 



1 



MIDLAND COUNTY 



-4^@^(®V|| 



% 



the mail between Lee's Corners and Midland City. 

He has held the office of Township Clerk four 
years, Constable three years and School Moderator 
three years, and has been Notary Public since March, 
1883. He is a member of Dvvight May Post, No. 
69, of Midland City. He maintains Republican 
views of national policy. 

Mr. Chamberlain was married in Northampton 
Co., Pa., Nov. 8, 1864, to Emma C, daughter of 
George and Clara Schwab, the latter being natives 
resjiectively of Germany and Pennsylvania. She 
was born in the above county, July 25, 1S45. Mr. 
and Mrs. C. are the parents of three children, 
namely: Anna C, Mary E. and John J. S. 



tt fWit- rank J. Holman, farmer, section 20, War- 
% ^SI |C ren Township, was born in Susquehanna 
''^^ '\\ Co., Pa., Dec. 22, 1835. He is a son of 
r^ Sumner and Rebecca (Ellsworth) Holman. 
•^^ His father was pushed from a running train 
i some 15 years ago and was instantly killed. It 
is supposed the party or parties who committed the 
murder did it to procure his money and insurance, 
but they were never identified or convicted. His 
mother is living in Midland City. She married a 
Mr. Henry D. Rogers, after the death of her first 
husband, and he also is deceased, and she is now 
again a widow. She moved to Ontario, Co., N. Y., 
after the death of her first husband, where she con- 
tracted her second marriage with Mr. Rogers. He 
was a farmer by occupation, and Frank was brought 
up on the farm and remained with him until 21 years 
of age. In the spring of 1850 tlie stepfather moved 
to Saginaw, this .State, and purchased 40 acres of 
land within nine miles of that city. Frank accom- 
panied him and remained with him on the land until 
the stepfather came to Midland City. 

Jan. 25, 1862, Mr. Holman was united in marriage 
to Julia A., daughter of William C. and Barbara M. 
(Curavo) Spicer. Her father was a native of New 
York and her mother of Vermont. 

Mrs. Holman was born June 26, 1845, in Ticon- 
derflga, Essex Co., N. Y. She is the mother, by Mr. 
Holman, of six children, one of whcmi is deceased. 
The living are Mable B., born Feb. iS, 1863, mar- 
ried May 22, 1881, to Otto S. Lewis; Maremna, born 
April 29, 1865; Frankie S., born Sept. 25, 1873; 



Maud S., born Oct. 11, 1875; Murray C, born Dec. 
4, t88o. Berdie, born June 2, 1868, died May 3, 1875. 
Politically, Mr. Holman is a believer in and suj)- 
porter of the principles of the Republican party. In 
religious affairs he and his wife are members of the 
Seventh-Day Advent Church. 



'«%^'<- :loij;jo;o;oj/;l:-:>fr^ 



'?S.-\V^k'^V 



mm 



--^ 



■fi^ 



I 






vs 



acob W. Kime, farmer, section 32, Porter 
I'ownship, was born Aug. 8, 1854, in Ing- 
, u^ ham Co., Mich. His parents, John and 

'^' Martha (Minick) Kime, are residents of Wheel- 
er Township, Gratiot County. They removed 
in i860 to Livingston County, where Mr. Kime, 
of this sketch, resided until he was 22 years old, 
when they settled in Gratiot County. 

In 1878 he settled on 80 acres of land in Porter 
Township, where he has since devoted his time and 
energies to the improvement of his estate. He has 
placed 20 acres under tillage, and has erected a good 
residence thereon. He is a skillful and progressive 
farmer, and in all his management displays good 
sense and correct judgment. 

His marriage to Ida Slough occurred Dec. 6, 1882. 
She was born in Ohio iii 1862, and came to Midland 
('ounty when five years old, and resided with her 
parents until her marriage. Of her marriage one 
child has been born — Carl R., June 10, 1S83. 




H.m 



fira p\l'^.^ougald Currie, larnier, section 35, Midland 
;, i-^.-W/'l j' Township, was born June 6, 1853, in Hal- 
5i*'i^ ^" dimand, Can., in the county of the same 
"v'jK name. He is the third son of John and Mary 
^ (McDonald) Currie, who were natives of Scot- 
\ land. The parents came to Canada two years 
after their marriage, settled in the county above 
named, where all their children save one were born. 
(See sketch of (iilbert Currie.) In i860 they re- 
moved to Michigan and settled on a tract of unim- 
proved land in Midland Township, where the father 
died, April 2, 1875. 

Mr. Currie was a lad of seven years when his 
parents became residents of Midland. He obtained 
a common-school education and was reared to the 
calling of his father. On the death of the latter he 






( 



(^ 





'i ) 



% 

'9 



MIDLAND 



no^^T 



f 



became the iX)Ssessor of 123 acres of the family 
homestead, to wliich he has since added 43 acres, 
and the farm now includes 140 acres of finely culti- 
vated land. He is a substantial citizen of Midland 
County, is a Republican of decided type, and, to- 
gether witli his wife, belongs to tlie Presbyterian 
Church. 

He was married in Canada, Dec. iS, 1S78, to 
Flora, daughter of James and Sarah (McDonald) 
Cress. The i)arents of Mrs. Currie were natives of 
Scotland, and came to Eramosa Township, Welling- 
ton Co., Can., where she was born, March 14, 1855. 
Mary, born Oct. 5, 1879, and Gilbert, born Sept. 20, 
1882, are the names of the two children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Currie. 

?lrS S^braham Fraser, farmer, section 2, Warren 
tk Township, was born in Ontario, Can., Dec. 
27, 1814, and is a son of Donald and Martha 




(Kilbreth) Fraser. 

The father of Abraham was born in West 
Troy, N. Y. He was a loyalist in 1777, and when 16 
years of age joined Gen. Burgoyne's army on its re- 
treat to Canada. He afterward located in Canada 
and followed the vocation of farming until the time 
of his death. 

Abraham remained at home until he attained the 
age of 16 years, when he commenced to learn the 
carpenter's trade. He successfully finished his ap- 
prenticeship, and has followed his trade, more or less, 
all his life. He also owned a farm in Canada, which 
he cultivated in addition to working at his trade. 

In the fall of 1866 he moved to Saginaw City, this 
State, rented a house and worked at his trade for 
three and one-half years. From that place he 
moved to Coleman, this county. In the summer of 
1870 he purchased a large lot in Coleman and 
erected a house on it. During the building of his 
house, he had no place for himself and family to stay 
in except a little, old establishment covered with hem- 
lock boards. The first rain that came was in the 
night time, and it poured down on their beds to such 
an extent that they were compelled to sit up all night 
and hold over them umbrellas, which they were ex- 
tremely lucky to have. 




COUNTY. 



Mr. Fraser purchased a farm of 40 acres adjoining 
the corporation of Coleman, and has 25 acres of it 
improved. He is one of the earliest living settlers 
of Coleman, and experienced many of the hardships 
of pioneer life. 

In September, 1841, he was united in marriage to 
Eliza, daughter of John and Hanna Piatt. Her par- 
ents are both dead. She also died, about a year 
after marriage, leaving an infant child to the care of 
the father, but who soon followed the mother to the 
better land. About 13 months after the death of his 
wife Mr. Fraser was married to Miss Mary Pratt, a 
sister of his former wife. She was of German de- 
scent, and departed this life in 1866, leaving to the 
care of her husband seven children, namely : Clarissa, 
Helen, Abraham, Sophia, Edward, Jane and William. 

In March, 1867, Mr. Fraser was married a third 
time, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Brock) Frazer. Her 
parents were of Scotch descent. Her father is living 
in Ontario, Can., and her mother died there. 

Mr. Fraser is independent in politics. He has 
held the office of Town Clerk one term. Highway 
Commissioner four terms. Justice of the Peace two 
terms. School Inspector two terms, and was Poor 
Master when that office existed. 

Mrs. Fraser is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and both are respected and esteemed 
citizens of the township. 



^»^-*« 




^' W. Crissey, editor and owner of the Mid- 
and Ri-ptiblican, was born in New Canaan, 

Whdn 



Tglpjri '''* Fairfield Co., Conn., Oct. 5, 1843. 

rii'A^ he was less than two years of age, Theodore 




Crissey, his father, removed with the family to 
Michigan, the trip occupying about two weeks. 
After a few months spent in Hillsdale County, pur- 
chases of wild land were made in Barry County, and 
pioneer family life was entered upon. The home was 
for 18 years or more in Johnstown, of that County. 
Some schooling was obtained in the little red school- 
house, and at 18 or 19 years of age the subject of this 
sketch spent a few months in the public school ot 
Battle Creek. 

At 18 he began teaching, in which occupation 
several winters were spent. The winter of 1864-5 



V^' 












^^^<^j^'mi 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-#^§5fs^/:|p 



) 






was passed in Little Rock, Ark., in the employment 
of " Uncle Sam." Subsequent years were largely 
occupied in teaching, alternated with attendance at 
the State Agricultural College and the State Normal 
School, at the latter of which he graduated in the 
classical course in rS72. For the next three years 
he was employed in the public schools of Detroit as 
I'rincipal of large grammar schools. This position 
was resigned at the close of the school year, in June, 
1875, to accept the position of Superintendent of 
Public Schools of Flint, then a city of about 9,000 
inhabitants. This position was held for five years, 
at the end of which time a re-appointment for the 
sixth year was declined. In the summer and autumn 
of 1880, several weeks were spent in conducting and 
giving instructions in teachers' institutes in different 
parts of the State. In December, 1880, he pur- 
chased the Midland Independent, having decided to 
undertake a line of work which for some time he 
had desired to engage in. Changing the name of 
the paper to The Republican, he began its publica- 
tion with the year i88i,and has continued it until 
the present writing (July, 18S4), without the omission 
of a single issue, making it the leading paper of the 
county. It is now permanently located in the large 
and convenient rooms on the second floor of the 
new postofifice block. The proprietor has fully iden- 
tified himself with the interests of Midland, having 
all that he possesses invested here. 



-•?3- 



^ 



1^ Lillet P. Embury, general merchant at Cole- 
Stj^^Mg man, was born in Grand Blanc, Mich., Jan. 
''^f ' 13, 1856, and is a son of David and Mar- 
tha (Morse) Embury, still resident at that 
place, on a farm. His father was born Dec. 7, 
1817, in'the town of Avon, N. Y., of Irish and 
German descent. EUet's mother, a relative of the 
great S. F. B. Morse, the founder of telegraphy, was 
born Jan. 12, i8i8, in the town of Eaton, Madison 
Co., N. Y., of Puritan stock. 

The subject of this sketch remained at home, as- 
sisting on the farm until he was about 25 years of 
age, attending school in his younger days and teach- 
ing three winter terms after he was of age; also, 
clerking some in a store at Grand Blanc and Judd's 
Corners ; then worked his father's farm one year, and 




finally, in 1883, came to Midland County and bought 
out J. & F. L. Post, and Dec. 22 opened out in his 
present business, in which he is succeeding satis- 
factorily. He is a Democrat in his political princi- 
ples, is a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the 
Congregational Church. 

Mr. Embury was married Dec. 31, 1879, to Miss 
Addie M., daughter of Benj. M. and Margaret 
(Dumigan) Knapp, who reside in Eaton, N. Y. Mr. 
K., of American descent, is a No. i carpenter and 
joiner. Mrs. E. was born at the last mentioned 
place, June 1 2, 1863. 



®^^m^^ 



^m 



^yfWW^' "^- ^- Button, farmer and saw-mill pro- 

^'^^J^l? prietor, residing on section 12, Geneva 

"^S?^ Township, and one of the representative 

|i^> as well as self-made men of the county, was 

born Feb. 18, r828, in Tompkins Co., N. Y., 

and is a son of Amos and Catherine (Baham) 

Button. 

The grandfather of Mr. Button was a Revolu- 
tionary soldier, was seven feet in height, with a foot 
16 inches from heel to toe, and a boot seven inches 
wide on the ball of the foot. The father of our sub- 
ject was a native of Vermont. He raised a family 
of six boys and five girls, who all grew to manhood 
and womanhood before his demise, which occurred 
March 7, 1880. The mother of our subject was a 
native of the Green Mountain State, and was a de- 
scendant, as well as the entire family, of the old 
Puritan stock. She died in December, 1849. 

Wm. R. Button, the subject of our biographical 
notice, remained at home assisting in the mainte- 
nance of the family until he attained the age of 17 
years. On arriving at that age he engaged during 
the summer seasons in sailing on the lakes, and 
spent his winters at home attending school. His 
father moved from Tompkins County to Stockton, 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he purchased a small 
farm on which the family lived for five years, when 
he sold it and moved with his family, in 1840, to 
Ashtabula Co., Ohio. 

Wm. R. purchased six months of his time, prior 
to his attaining the age of maturity, from his father, 
for $50, and also contributed liberally from his earn- 
ings on the lakes to aid the father in purchasing a 
farm. He also purchased a farm of 50 acres, four 



^ 



A 

. >. 






r 




(^#^' 




■rr 



^>I1(1^I1D>^' 



V' u 



4^^^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



6 






>: 



V 



miles from Geneva, and paid for it from his earn- 
'ngs. He continued to follow the vocation of a 
sailor, and became commander of a vessel. His 
earnings increasing, he hired a man to clear and im- 
prove his farm, and continued his vocation until the 
late civil war. He then went on his farm, and rent- 
ing some additional land near his own, engaged in 
the dairy business. He kept some 35 cows and con- 
ducted the business in such a manner as to meet 
with signal success. He subsequently sold his farm 
and purchased another containing 50 acres just out- 
side the village of Geneva. On this farm he erected 
a fine house in 1864, at a cost of $3,500. 

In 1868, ATr. Button rented his farm and came 
with his family to what is nov/ Buttonville, this 
county. He was quick to see the advantages which 
the county afforded to men of industry and judgment 
for the making of money, and, having faith in its fu- 
ture development, he engaged with four others, un- 
der the firm name of Button, Mason & Co., and pur- 
chased all of section 12, Geneva Township, less 120 
acres. The firm erected a saw-mill on their land, 
which was destroyed by fire Thanksgiving night, 
Dec. 14, 1873. Inside of 60 days they had another, 
larger than the old one, erected and running. It 
consisted of one planing, two shingle, one lath and a 
circular-saw mill, and is yet standing, although in 
poor condition, as a monument of the past. Ma- 
son & Co. held their interest in the property only for 
about a year, when Mr. Button purchased it just pre- 
vious to the fire above mentioned. He now owns 50 
acres of land and 50 village lots in Buttonville. 

Mr. Button was united in marriage Sept. 16, 1849, 
in Geneva, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, to Sarah Jane, 
daughter of Henry and Farilla (Wood) Harris. The 
parents were natives of New York, of Puritan de- 
scent, and died in Geneva, Ohio. Mrs. Button was 
born in the State of New York, Dec. 10, 1829, and 
accompanied her parents to Madison, Ashtabula Co., 
Ohio, when she was six months old, where she lived 
until her marriage. She is the mother of the follow- 
ing children to Mr. Button: Albert M , born Jan. 7, 
1853, in Geneva, Ohio (see sketch); Fred William, 
born in Geneva, Ohio, April 9, 1861, and the present 
owner of 4 acres of land, in Geneva Township, this 
county. (See also sketch of the latter.) 

Politically, Mr. Button is a Republican. He has 
held the office of Justice of the Peace two terms. 




Supervisor part of a term, and the different school 
offices. The subject of this sketch experienced all 
the trials incident to immigration and settlement in 
a new country, when he came with his family to this 
State. He moved from Cleveland to Detroit by 
steamboat, then by wagons to Saginaw. On arriving 
at the latter place he disposed of a span of his 
horses for $500, and came on to tliis county in his 
wagons. While at Saginaw, Albert, their oldest boy, 
was taken with the measles, and Mr. Button sent his 
wife and two children by " rail " to "Red Keg," now 
Averill. Mrs. B. arrived at the hotel at Averill and 
the next morning was told by the " host " "she must 
move out, as the boarders would not remain unless 
she and her children left." In the meantime Mr. 
Button arrived with his teams from Saginaw, and 
took his wife and children to Sanford, where he left 
them in a log house belonging to Charles Sanford, 
his family having moved out a few days previously. 
There happened to be an old stove and an old straw 
tick left in the house, and the mother, with her two 
sick children, the youngest child having taken the 
measles also, remained there all alone and unpro- 
tected for an entire week. The father went on his 
land, where Buttonville now stands, and entered on 
its improvement and made occasional trips to his 
family. The last time he went home (or rather to the 
log house), to see his family, he was taken with the 
measles, and on his recovery he removed his family 
to the camp located on the present site of Button- 
ville. These were only a few of the trials he 
encountered, yet, being endowed with that spirit of 
determination which, when backed by energy and 
perseverance, conipiers all obstacles, he succeeded. 





I rville B. Hosner, a farmer residing on sec- 
tion 28, Hope Township, was born in Mon- 
roe Co., N. Y., July 4, 1836, the son of 
Hugh and Elia (Sutfan) Hosner, natives of 
New York, and of English-German and Dutch 
extraction, respectively. The father was a 
farmer and mechanic, and died in Thornville, Lapeer 
Co., Mich., Jan. 29, 18S1, aged 68. The mother is 
yet living, on the old homestead in Lapeer County, 
her son Oliver renting the same. Two sons and five 



K2) 









<-[ias;iin<?>^ 





®))^ff'*- 



-^^^ ^V<^^tlII§PIl^>T 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






s'^ 



(h 



) 



:-ce 



V 



daughters were included in their family, and of these 
Orville is the second. 

He was three years old when the family came lo 
Oakland County, this State, where they lived ten 
years on a new farm of 90 acres, four and a half miles 
west of Romeo. His father then sold this place, and 
purchased another two and a half miles north of 
Romeo, where the children all grew to maturity. Or- 
ville was 24 years old when he married and came to 
Midland County. 

He arrived in Hope Township May 3, t86o, with 
but $5 in ready money, and purchased 160 acres un- 
der the Graduation Act on section 24, township 16 
north, I east, at a cost of 25 cents per acre. He 
afterwards bought 80 acres adjoining, at the same 
price. He had visited this county the fall before his 
removal, and with his brother-in-law, Charles In- 
man, made the selection. When he came here to 
stay, he came with his wife and Charles Inman in 
a wagon, through Flint, the journey occupying si.x 
days. The team belonged to Mr. Inman, who sent it 
back to Oakland County by his step-son, David M. 
Wilcox, while he remained and boarded with Mr. and 
Mrs. Hosner. His wife boarded with Nelson Fraser 
while he built a shanty. The roof was covered with 
basswood bark, and the floor was made of split bass- 
wood logs. The erection of this occupied him about 
one week, and he was assisted by Charles Inman, 
Nelson Fraser and William McCrary. In this shanty 
Mr. H. lived four years. He then sold his place to 
Francis Green, returned to Romeo and lived one 
winter with his father. 

The following spring he came again to Midland, 
leased the lot opposite John Larkin's store, and built 
a store and dwelling. Here for three years he dealt 
in groceries, and then he exchanged his lease and 
goods for a farm of 60 acres three miles up the Titta- 
bawassee River, then in Midland, but now in Homer 
Township. After seven years he sold this and re- 
moved to the farm where Mr. Stanford now lives. 
This he purchased of John Larkin, and 40 acres ad- 
ditional he bought of Sidney Gould, and 80 acres of 
a Mr. McCune. Here he resided four years and a 
half, and then, Feb. 16, 1877, he sold and moved to 
his present farm of 100 acres. At that time 50 acres 
were improved, but now he has 90 acres subdued. 

He followed lumbering and camped out in Hope 
Township one winter 16 years ago. He has been in 




lumbering business altogether 15 winters, sometimes 
gaiiiing and at other times losing; but on the whole 
he has come out ahead. He is one of the substan- 
tial farmers of Hope Township. 

His marriage occurred Nov. i, 1S59, and the lady 
of his choice was Miss .Anna E. Green, daughter of 
Francis and Polly (Stevens) Green. Mr. G. was 
born Nov. 19, 1800, was in early life a preacher of 
the Baptist denomination, and later a farmer, and 
now resides in Lincoln Township, at the venerable 
age of 84. Mrs. Green died at the residence of her 
daughter, Melvina Inman, March 4, 1S80. Their 
daughter, Mrs. Hosner, was born May 12, 1S43, in 
Fort Ann, N. Y. 

The three children born of this marriage are all 
living: Orville Clyde was born Feb. 17, 1S61, in 
Lincoln (now Hope) Township; Ara E., born Oct. 
23, 1S63, in same township, married Feb. 2, 1884, to 
George E. Guinan; Mary Irene, Jan. i, iS76,in Mid- 
land Township. 

Mr. H. has been Township Clerk two yeais, and 
Supervisor of Homer Township one year. He is 
politically a Republican. 



jjl obert Potter, farmer, section 26, Porter 
Township, was born Oct. 8, 1839, in York 
Co., Ont. His parents, Alexander and 
Letitia Potter, were Scotch by descent and 
were born in Ontario. The father died about 
the year 1874; the demise of the mother oc- 
curred in 1872. Their children numbered five sons 
and three daughters, and are all living. 

Mr. Potter is the only son of his parents whose 
feet have wandered from his native soil. He resided 
at home and assisted on his father's farm, attending 
the common schools until he was 18 years old. At 
that age he became a Laborer on the farms of his na- 
tive place, and passed two years in that manner 
when he settled on Lake Erie in Norfolk Co., Ont., 
where he engaged as a sawyer in a mill on Otter 
River. He remained thus employed one year, and 
at the end of that period he traveled through Indiana 
and Illinois, stopping at Elgin in the Prairie State, 
where he spent some time as a farm assistant. He 
returned to Saginaw City, Mich , by way of Wash- 
tenaw County, and engaged as an engineer in a saw- 




>.^ 



( 



.^: 












^)«^#^ 



<^DII§IIIl^t>-^ 




r." -"^ 

m 



YIt^^ 









> 






V 



J 



t 



•• • 



^^M'iim^T 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






z^-^Mf^^ 



273 



mill. He spent seven j'ears in that occupation, and 
meanwhile secured a homestead claim of 160 acres 
of land in Porter Township, this county, filing his 
first claim in 1870. Later, in that year, he built a 
shanty thereon, and secured a man and his wife to 
keep his house. In the spring of 1873 the shanty, 
with its contents, was destroyed by fire. Undaunted, 
he erected another place of shelter, and April 7, 
1875, he was marrried at St. Louis, Gratiot Co., 
Mich., to Alice, daughter of Andrew and Sophia 
(Hannah) Hannah. Her parents are natives of 
Ontario and Scotland, and are now living. Alice 
was bom in Haldimand Co., Ont., April 24, 1858. 
Her parents removed to East Saginaw when she was 
nine years old, and later came to the county of Mid- 
land. Four children have been bom to Mr. and 
Mrs. Potter, one of whom is deceased. Arthur W. 
was born March 14, 1876; Charles, Nov. 22, 1880; 
Laura, Jan. 20, 18S3. \ child died in infancy, un- 
named. 

Since his marriage Mr. Potter has resided with his 
family on his homestead, which he has improved and 
greatly increased in value. Among other farm fix- 
tures of a most creditable character, is a commodious 
and practical farm house. The family attend the 
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Potter is a Republican 
of inflexible principles and wide influence. In 1876 
he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has served 
eight years in that oflice; is still the incumbent of the 
position. He has been Highway Commissioner one 
year, and during the years 1878-81 he served as 
Supervisor, officiating as Chairman of the Board in 
the two last years named. He has been Township 
Treasurer two years, and is at present School 
Director, which office he has held five years. 



#-^ ^ 

Charles H. Winslow, merchant, Lee's Cor- 
jPg^ ners, is a son of Loring S. and Mar)' 




ri^ (Brown) Winslow, the former a native of Ver- 



^[2 



\ 



mont and the latter of the State of New York. 
He was bom in the Green Mountain State, 
April 7, 1846; in the spring of 1867, when 21 
years of age, he came to Midland Count}-, where he 
has since resided most of the time, engaged in the 
woods and on the river. In January, 1883, he bought 
out the store and stock of his brother, C. J. Winslow, 

^KS^^m^ ^^^ — ^-=<^D a 



and has since been carrying on a very successful 
trade. 

Politically, Mr. Ulnslow is a Democrat in his 
views and voting. He was Constable one year in 
Saginaw County. 

He was married in IngersoU Township, Sept. 13, 
1874, to Miss Harriet F., daughter of Job and Sarah 
E. (Mann) Chase, natives of New York State. She 
was bom in Lapeer Co., Mich., .\pril 4, 1849. The 
children of Mr. and Mrs. W. are Laura H., Loring 
S., Charles H., John W. and Julia F. 




1 evi Fulmer, carpenter and joiner, and 
Z farmer on section 10, Homer Township, 
ijS? 1 *^s bom May 23, 1830, in Sterling, Cayuga 
^tj^ Co., N. Y. His father, Jacob Fulmer, was a 
Aj native of the State of New York and was of 
\^ Dutch descent. He died at 63 years of age, in 
St. Joseph Co., Ind. Polly (Stockwell) Fulmer, his 
mother, was a native of the Empire State, &f New 
England parentage, and died in St. Joseph Co., Ind., 
aged 68 years. Of their family of eight children, but 
two are living. 

Mr. Fulmer is the fourth child and son in the 
order of birth. He remained under the home roof 
until he was 22 years of age, when he apprenticed 
himself to learn the occupation of builder. He 
served two years, and then operated as a journeyman 
carp)enter until the date of his enrollment as a soldier 
of the Union. He enlisted in August, 1863, in the 
97 th N. Y. VoL Inf., in Co. H. The command was 
under Gen. Warren, in the Army of the Potomac. 
He was in several important actions, and was also 
on several occasions detailed for special duty. With 
the exception of the fatigue and privations common 
to army life, he ebcaf>ed without injurj', and was hon- 
orably discharged July 18, 1865. He went to Os- 
wego Co., N. Y., on being released from military 
service, and soon after came to Midland County, 
where he purchased the section of land on which he 
has since pursued the occupation of farming. His 
land was in primeval forest, and he experienced all 
the perplexities which never fail to annoy and render 
severe the days of pioneer existence. But he pur- 
sued the work of improving and culrivaring his farm 
until he has placed it in creditable condition. He is 






>: 



i'J 



^- 



t 

I 



» 




<^DD^DD^>■T 



274 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




a member of the Republican party and has served 
five years as Township Clerk, three years as Treas- 
urer and four years as Justice of the Peace. 

His marriage to Rhoda Fineout occurred Nov. 4, 
(hi 1855, in Oswego, N. Y., where she was Dorn, June 3, 
1830. Her parents died when she was about 20 
years of age. She had resided with them and after 
their death she made her home with her sister. Two 
children have been born of her marriage, as follows : 
Anna, Dec. 15, 1856, and Mary A., Feb. 4, 1861. 
The parents are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, in which Mr. Fulmer has been active 
since his connection therewith. He is at present 
Class- Leader. 



illiam T. Depue, general farmer, section 




> 
') 



31, Jas|)er Township, was born in Trum- 
Jf^^r^ bull Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1.S30, tlie eldest 
lujjJ'' of three children, all of wliom are yet living. 
4br His brother is Marsiiall S,, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere in this volume, and his sister 
is Mrs. Julia Fields, of St. Louis, Mich. Their par- 
ents were tlie first settlers in the west half of Mid- 
land County, their father building the first house, a 
log cabin, in the first part of April, 1856, which still 
stands as a monument of pioneer pains and pleas- 
ures. Originally its floor was made of puncheons, 
and there was not a sawed board in the whole 
structure. The door and table were also made of 
what might be called " split and hewed boards." The 
latch and hinges were all wood, and the roof was 
made of "shakes," held on with "shake-poles." Mr. 
Depue, Sr., with his two sons, Marshall S. and VVm. 
Tracy, purchased the whole of section 31, Jasper 
Township. 

When 19 years of age the subject of this sketch 
left home and his native county for Illinois; a year 
afterward he returned home; in the fall of 1854 he 
went to Iowa, and in the fall of 1855 he came to 
C§' Midland County, engaging in the trade of carpenter 
and joiner, which he had learned while in Ohio and 
Iowa. At Freeland Station, Saginaw ("ounty, he 
built the five-ton boat wliich carried the provisions 
donated to " starving Gratiot " during that memorable 
period by the cities of Detroit and Saginaw. Tliese 
articles of food were so eagerly received that they 



were all delivered from the boat within a few hours 
after its landing. 

For three years after his arrival here, Mr. Depue 
was variously engaged, on Pine and Chippewa Rivers. 
He and Joseph Miser built the first school-house on 
the Indian reservation in Isabella County. In July, 
1859, he returned to Ohio, and on the 14th of that 
month, in Trumbull Co., Ohio, he married Miss Sarah 
C. Martin, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Craig) 
Martin. She was born in Portage Co., Ohio, June i, 
1836, the eldest of five children, — two sons and 
three daughters. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Depue are: Ida, born April 17, i860, in Jasper 
Township, and married in Coe Township, Isabella 
County, Aug. 16, 1881, to VVm. H. Ney, a farmer of 
Jasper Township, this county; and Lucy, born Oct. 
18, 1862, also in Jasper Township, and Nov. 10, 
1880, married Eli E. Oswald, also a firmer in the 
same township. 

Directly after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Depue com- 
menced house-keeping at his home in this county, 
where he now owns 180 acres of good land, with 80 
acres well improved, with the necessary farm build- 
ings, etc. 

Mr. D. secured the organization of Jasper Town- 
ship, in i860, then six miles wide east and west, and 
eighteen miles long north and south. He was elected 
Supervisor, and served four years. He has also held 
the offices of Townshi]) Clerk and Justice of the 
Peace, as well as the less important offices of his 
township. In his political views he sympathizes with 
the National Greenback party. He has seen military 
life, enlisting for the Union Dec. 20, 1864, in (!!o. A, 
15th Mich. Inf., Army of the Cumberland, and being 
discharged Sept. 9, 1865, after a service of nine 
months. 




'ames Hughes, general farmer, section 2, 

Porter Township, was born in England, 

vj^ - April 7, 1839, and when he was a year old 

the family emigrated to America, and lived in 

Licking Co., Ohio, on a farm, until the parents 

died, in 187 1-2. 

The subject of this sketch lived in that county 

until he was 23 years of age, when he was married, 

and shortly afterward went into the army to serve 



<^' 



(^ 



1=1 
•^ - 



^( 



lr>A^ 










• 



^-^n£.rKj 




?^y>: 









r^ ^ u '^ ^^[iU»^ m-> \' w — >a^X- 



#^5f 



^ 



(^) 



:^ 



? 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



for the Government, enlisting in Co. E, i3Sth Ohio 
Vol. Inf., in the Army of the Cumberland. He was 
in the service four months, engaging in the battle of 
Harper's Ferry, and was also a member of the Ohio 
National Guard for five years. 

Returning to Licking County, he followed agricul- 
ture upon his farm of i6o acres until recently, when 
he sold out, purchased 280 acres on sections r and 2, 
Porter Township, all heavily timbered land. 

In his political action Mr. Hughes votes inde- 
pendently. 

Oct 8, 1863, in Licking Co., O., Mr. Hughes mar- 
ried Miss Sarah \nn Shaw, a native of that county, 
born Feb. 11, 1843. To Mr. and Mrs. H. have been 
born nine children, as follows: John E., Frank, 
William W., Lillie, George, Mary B., Charley A., 
Nellie G. and James A. (deceased). 



IllRjjhineas Swift, farmer, section T,Tiy Homer 
ii^Sli<°, Township, was born March 27, 1826, in 
J'llisj. Livingston Co., N. Y. He had the train- 

I'll 



■)t 



|Mii ing and education of a farmer's son, and was 
under his father's guidance until he reached 
his majority. He was married Jan. i, 1847, to Caro- 
line Stone, a native of Connecticut, born in 1829. 
Four sons and five daughters have been born of this 
marriage: three of the latter are dead. The mother 
died at her home in Mecosta County, Sept. g, 1875. 
In 1850 the family removed to Fair Plains, Mont- 
calm Co., Mich., where they resided until the second 
year of the war, when the husband and father be- 
came a soldier of the Union. He enlisted Aug. 15, 
1862, in the 21st Mich. Vol. Inf, enrolling in Co. F. 
The command was assigned to the Army of the 
Cumberland. He became disabled soon after reach- 
ing the field, and was discharged, on a surgeon's 
certificate, April 11, 1863. He had contracted a 
pulmonary disease from his exposure and he was 
wholly incapacitated a year after his discharge. 

On recovery, he came to Midland County and 
bought 160 acres on section 4, Homer Township, 
which he e.xchanged two years later for 200 acres in 
the same township. Later on he sold this and went 
to Mecosta County on account of the ill-health of 
his wife. He located near Big Rapids. The change 

proved futile for the purpose sought, as the wife and 




mother died about one year after the removal. In 
1880 Mr. Swift bought 80 acres of land in Kent 
County, which he sold the same year, and in 1881 
he bought 64 acres where he has since resided. He 
is a Republican and held the office of Justice of the 
Peace one year during his first residence here. 

Mr. Swift's likeness may be found on the opposite 
page. It is tliat of a brave soldier and representa- 
tive citizen of the State of Michigan as well as of 
Midland County. 



m^ 




ohn C. Sias, farmer on section 32, Jasper 
Township, was born at Ann Arbor, Wash- 
tenaw County, this State, Feb. 16, 1835, 
and is the son of John and Lucretia (Dudley) 
Sias, natives of Vermont and New York. The 
father was of French-Irish descent, followed 
agriculture, and died at the residence of his son John 
in the spring of 1876, at the age of nearly 82. The 
mother lives with Mr. Sias, at the venerable age of 86. 
The subject of this outline is the fifth son and 
ninth child of a family of ten — three sons and two 
daughters of which number are now living. He lived 
with his parents in his native town until 15 years 
old, at which age he was apprenticed to learn the 
trade of millwright, under a Mr. Waite, of Ann Arbor. 
He remained with him but one year, and then for 
three and a half years was employed as a cabinet- 
maker at Dexter, Mich. Going to Wapawma, Wis., 
he worked there one year, and then visited Minne- 
sota, Iowa and Dakota. 

While in Iowa, Oct. 15, 1 861, he enlisted in Co. C, 
14th Iowa Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the com- 
mand of George H. Wolf, in the Army of the North- 
west. He was discharged in February, 1864, having 
been employed in the frontier forts. On the 26th of 
the same month he re-enlisted in the same company, 
which was made Co. M, 7th Iowa Vol. Cav. He 
served till the conclusion of the war, and was honor- 
ably discharged in June, 1866, having lived nearly 
five years in the army. He fought at Deer Moun- 
tain, and the Bad Lands of the Little Missouri River. 
He then traveled through Minnesota and Wiscon- 
sin to Michigan, arriving in Midland County in Oc- 
tober, 1867. He located a land warrant of 160 acres 
on sections 32, 33 and 28, Jasper, and proceeded to 



9 

> 
A 






% 




^wmi^^^^ — :^w^ 



-^^ 



m 









> 

■'■>. 

E=I 
CIS 

> 






,^ 



^ 
'^^ 



278 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



make a home. In December, 1868, at St. Louis, he 
was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Mary Small (jicc 
Sias) daughter of Solomon and Emily (Copeland) 
Sias. Her father was of French descent, a native of 
Ontario, and died in Pine River Township, Gratiot 
County, in February, 1884. Her mother was of Eng- 
lish lineage, was a native of the State of New York, 
and died in that State in 1855. 

By her first marriage, Mrs. Sias has a daughter, 
Cora; and by her second she is the mother of three 
children, Jessie, Edgar and Ashley. 

Mr. Sias has improved 40 acres of his place, and 
has sold 40. He has held the office of Supervisor 
from 1868 to 1870, inclusive, and also in 1876. He 
has been Township Treasurer two years, and has 
filled minor positions of trust. In political belief, he 
is a Republican. 




Vm\ obert D. Cody, farmer on section 2=;, Lar- 
■^~%; km Township, is a son of Alonzo and 
""" Fanny (Fullmer) Cody, natives respectively 
of New York State and Ohio; and was born 
ill Buffalo, N.Y., June 10,1861. His parents re- 
moved to this State when he was one year old, 
and he has resided since in Michigan, e.xcept 10 years 
in Iowa. He came to Midland County in the fall of 
1879, and has now 20 acres of an So-acre tract im- 
proved. 

April r, 18S3, in Midland City, Miss Florence Per- 
kins, a native of New York State, changed by mar- 
riage her last name to Cody. In political sentiment 
Mr. C. is a Republican. 



^"^ oxiis Riefenberg, farmer, section 34, Inger- 
soll Township, is a son of Christopher 
t^U"-^^ Riefenberg, a native of Germany, who passed 
6j(;p" his entire life in that country. He was born in 
Germany June 6, 1830; from the age of 14 to 
22 he attended bar; he then came to America 
and for three years followed farming in Pennsyl- 
vania; in May, 1856, he came and bought 80 acres 
of unimproved land in Ingersoll Township, wliere he 
still resides. Sinc# his first purchase he bought 80 




acres more, and he now has about 100 acres under 
cultivation and in good condition. 

He is School Assessor of District No. i, and was 
elected Township Clerk last spring (1884). Politi- 
cally he belongs to the National party. 

Mr. R. was married in Pennsylvania Feb. 16, 1862, 
to Margaret, daughter of Balsar and Elizabeth Hil- 
debrand, who were natives of Germany. Mrs. R. 
was born also in that country, Jan. 27, 1844. The 
children in her family are, Louis H., Joh.n G., Sarah 
E., William L., Mary E. and Minnie A. 



:h': 



^mf% 



-1~ 



I 



V p- )' I } arshall S. Depue, general farmer, section 

- .,'"". - ' .'.T; .f 31, Jasper Township, was born in Trum- 

^^^ bull Co., Ohio, June 12, 1833. His parents, 

' Nicholas and Charlotte (Allen) Depue, were 



\^ 









( 



natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, ( " 
and of French and Yankee ancestry. Mrs. 
D.'s father was one of the first settlers in the State 
of Ohio. Mr. Nicholas Depue died, it is supposed, 
somewhere in the State of Michigan, the time and 
place being unknown ; and his widow died at the 
residence of her daughter, Mrs. Fields, at St. Louis, 
Sept. 25, 1883. The old log cabin erected by Nicho- 
las Depue, thr first built in the township, is still 
standing. Formerly it had not a sawed board in it. 
It is preserved in memory of the first days of Mid- 
land. 

The subject of this sketch was brought up on the 
farm, to the vocation of his father, and was married 
March 8, 1859, in Milton, Mahoning Co., Ohio, to 
Miss Lois R. Baldwin, who was born in that county 
April 27, 1S33, and before her marriage taught ten 
terms of school. The children by this marriage are : 
Charles C, William B., Lottie M. and Scott (de- 
ceased). Mrs. D. died at her home in this town- 
ship, Nov. 4, 1883, leaving a large circle of friends 
to mourn the loss. Slie was exceptionally a kind and 
loving wife, mother and member of society. Ever 
since she was 15 years of age she had been an active 'p) 
member of the Presbyterian Church. I 

After his marriage, Mr. D. started immediately for c'-.. 
Michigan, and located on a quarter of section 31, iM 
where he has since made his home. He was one of ^ 
the first settlers of the township. On his estate of (g\ 

one of ^ 




\®^ 






225 acres, he has i 25 acres finely improved 




m 






(^ 



5^#« 



4>iin^iiii>i>T 






V 



# 



P 



^^ 



I 



a 



■ev 



MIDLAND 



COUNTY. 



4^^ 



279 



the best farms in the county He also has recently 
erected a residence which compares favorably with 
the best in the county. 

JMr. Depue is a staunch Republican, and has been 
honored wilh the offices of Supervisor and Treasurer. 
He helped to organize the township. 



^i l&flvJhnrles F. Marcy, farmer, section 26, In- 
4''— ^^.j nersoll Township, is a son of Alanson and 
Mary A. (Bowen) Marcy, who were natives of 
New York State. (See sketch of Alanson 
Marcy.) 

The subject of this sketch was born in 
Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1836, and was seven 
years old when the family came to Oakland Co., 
Mich. In 1856, at the age of 20, lie came to this 
county, wliere he has since resided. In 1857 he pur- 
chased 80 acres of unimproved land in IngersoU 
Township, on section 26, and at present has about 
45 acres under good cultivation. 

In political action Mr. Marcy works for Republican 
principles, and lie has officiated as Township Clerk 
one year. 

He was first married in Lapeer Co., Mich., Dec. 
31, 1872, to Clista J., daughter of Harrison and 
Philinda Young, residents of IngersoU Township. 
She was born in Henrietta, N. Y.,Nov. 8, 1851. The 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Marcy are: Philinda E. 
and Henry H. Mrs. M. died Jan. 5, 1880, and Mr. 
M. was married April 14, i88r, to Mrs. Harriet A. 
(Wilsey) Pangburn, widow of George W. Pangburn, a 
native of Vermont, who died in Saginaw, April 16, 
1 87 3. She had by her first marriage two children, — 
Viola H. and George J. Mrs. M. was born in Lucas 
Co , Ohio, Jan. 24, 1847. 



^•^MilH^xtE 



H. Peck, station agent and telegraph oper- 
^ ator at Sanford, was born Dec. 17, 1853 
in Fair Haven, Mass. He is a son of 
'J^^s Joseph N. and Lydia C. (Blaisdell) Peck. 
His father was a native of the State of Rhode 
Island and was of English parentage. He was a 
cooper by trade, and passed the greater portion of 
his life in that and in farming, except five years. 





^ 



when he was engaged in mercantile business. He 
died May 25, 1865, in New Bedford, Mass. The 
mother was born in September, 1813, in Maine, of 
Scotch ancestors, and is yet living, at Fairhaven, 
Mass. Seven children born to the parents reached 
maturity. 

In May, 1878, Mr. Peck came West and engaged 
in farming in Ortonville, Oakland Co., Mich., where 
he spent about four months. He then went to Sag- 
inaw and spent three months as an assistant in a saw 
mill. At the end of that time he engaged as a brake- 
man on the F. & P. M. Railroad, and not long after 
met with an accident which crippled him for life. 
He fell from a wood rack and received an injury to 
his left leg, whicli caused tlie loss of the foot below 
the ankle. The raihoad tompany took entire charge 
of him during his ilbiess, and on his recovery he 
came to Sanford, where he fitted himself for the 
duties of the position he now occupies. He has had 
full and entire charge of the office since September, Oj 
1882. He was married Dec. 24, 1882, to Victoria ^ 
Wallace. 



'iL^i&tsSi 




i 
S 



^^^ 



J^::-^. 



mmmo 



l^aron Havens, farmer, section 27, Hope Tp., •<• 
^ifs^sSS.- was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., June i, * 
S-li^S? 1826, the son of Samuel and Amy (Bennett) , !" 
"■^ Havens. His father was of Scotch descent, 
1'' was born in New Jersey, moved to Wayne Co., 

N. Y., thence to Hartland, Niagara Co., same 
State, thence to Seneca Township, Seneca Co., same 
State, and finally to Lenawee Co., Mich., where he 
died, aged about 60. Mrs. Havens, Aaron's mother, 
was a native of New Jersey, and died in Wayne Co., 
N. Y., having been the mother of three sons and one 
daughter, all of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Ha- 
vens, senior, married for his second wife Miss Sarah 
Ann Tubbs, in Wayne Co., N. Y. 

The subject of this biography was ten years old 
when his father came to the Peninsular State, and he 
lived at home with his father and stepmother until of 
age, assisting on the farm. He then worked as a 'W 
farm laborer by the month for two years in Niagara 
Co., N. Y., and three years in St. Clair Co., Mich. 

March 23, 1854, he was married to Miss Mary Jane 
Ellsworth, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Hewett) 
Ellsworth. Her father died at Johnson's Creek, (f^^ 
Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1839; and her mother in St. ^ 




T 



mvm^^' 



V 



^^,mm\mi 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



Il 



M' Clair Co., Mich., in 1856. Mrs. Havens was born 

Ai June 10, 1836, in Hartland, Niagara Co., N. Y. Fol- 

.:^ lowing is the record of the eiglit children born to Mr. 

? and Mrs. Havens: Sarah, born Aug. 28, 1856, at 

^ Saginaw, Mich.; George, Dec. 2, 1857, in Edenville 

Township, this county; Florence A., Jan. 22, i860, 

in same townshij); Lewis, April 23, 1862, in Hope 

Township; Ella, July 6, 1864, in same townshij); 

Hiram W., Oct. 31, 1868, in same township; Samuel 

Wallace, Aug. 13, 1870, in same township; William 

/ Clarence, April 17, 1875, in same township, and died 

ik, Dec. 9, 1878. 

For one year after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Havens 
lived in St. Clair County. They then settled in this 
county, first in Edenville Townshii), and later on 
their present farm in Hope. Mrs. Havens relates 
that her children, Sarah and (ieorgc, lost themselves 
one day, when aged respectively four and two and a- 
half years, and were out all night, in a marsh two 
miles from home, with a cold rain falling all night; 

In political sentiment, Mr. H. is a Republican. 
He and wife are members of the Church of God. 



) 

> 



:<$ 



V 



) 



• f^;f rank S. Burton, editor of the Midland 
Xi ^aaijjis, ''^I'lh is a son of David and Emeline (Cope- 
-JLS235 v., \^y^^ Burton, and was born in Dexter, 



Me., July 17, 1846. The father was born in 



ys|-s Garland Township, Penobscot Co., Me., in Sep- 
tember, 1801 ; has followed farming all his 
active life, having cleared four farms in his time. He 
came to Dexter, Mich., in 1851, and settled on a 
tract of wild land, which he subdued to cultivation ; 
and in March, 1855, he came up the Saginaw and 
Tittabawassee Rivers to this county, arriving at Eden- 
ville on the 31st of that month. He jire-empted 
160 acres on section 12, in what is now Edenville 
Township, and by industry and perseverance made 
it one of the finest farms in the county. After losing 
his wife, he sold, and he now resides alternately with 
his son Edwin D., in I'klenville 'I'ownship. and with 
Mr. Burton, of this sketch. The njother was born in 
Coreana Township, Penoliscot Co., Me., in 1815, and 
died on the farm in F^denville Township, this courity, 
in April, 1882. Their family included eight children, 
Frank S. being the sixth. 

The subject of this record lived with his parents 



until 18 years old, attending school in the winter 
seasons. At that age he taught one, winter term of 
school. He then entered the State Agricultural Col- 
lege at Lansing. Here he studied four years, teach- 
ing during the vacations, and was graduated in 
November, 1868. After this he taught a select 
school at Midland, then one term in the city schools 
of Big Rapids, and then for one summer engaged in 
farming in Edenville, with his brother Edwin. After 
studying a term in the Law Department of the State 
University, and teaching a few months in Edenville, 
he then, in company with his brother, purchased a 
small water-jiower saw-mill. This they operated a 
few months and then sold. Returning to Ann Arbor, 
he completed his course in law, receiving his dii)loma 
Ajjril I, 187 I. 

He practiced a few months at East Tawas, Iosco 
County, and then came to Midland. In December, 
I 87 I, he purchased a one-tliird interest in the Mid- 
land y«r/(/('W(v;/ and the Faiwell Rci^isUr, and com- 
menced his journalistic career. The following month, 
by the withdrawal of one partner, John Haynes, he 
became proprietor of a half interest, and before the 
end of the year he bought the remaining stock of the 
Register. This he conducted over one year, and 
then sold, in the fall of 1872, to his brother. In 
July of the ensuing year he again bought, and re- 
tained possession until December, 1880. In Febru- 
ary, 1881, he purchased the Democrat office and 
founded the Sun, which he is now conducting, his 
first issue appearing Feb.. 17. He employs three as- 
sistants, has a good job trade, and his paper has an 
encouragingly large circulation. 

Ill 1877 he purchased 320 acres of land, a half of 
section 33, Larkin Township. He now owns 480 
acres, of which 160 are under cultivation. He takes 
a deep interest in thorough-bred short-horns, and has 
the only pure ones in the county (four in number), 
besides 1 2 to 75 high-graded animals. He resides 
on his farm, which is located three miles from the 
court-house. 

June 20, 1873, at Detroit, lie was joined in matri- 
mony with Miss Vina E. Belknap, daughter of Julius 
K. and Lydia Place, of St. Clair County. Mrs. Bur- 
ton was born at Oswego, N. Y., Aug. 23, 1852. 

Mr. B. was nominated in the fall of 1876 for Pro- 
bate Judge, on the Republican ticket, against William 
Kelley on the Democratic ticket, and was elected. 



1 



v|) 



C 



'^ 






r 










1/ 



')^/^«^>«^#*- 



\ 












MIDLAND COUNTY. 



•^'.jtfC 



4^t^5fsvii 



281 



He filled the office creditably four years. In the fall 
of 1882 he was nominated on the Fusion ticket for 
State Senator, but was defeated by John W. Hance, 
of Mt. Pleasant. He received a good vote, but his 
party was not strong enough to win. In the spring 
of 1884 he was chosen Supervisor of Larkin Town- 
ship, which office he now holds. Politically, Mr. 
Burton was a Republican for many years, and con- 
ducted his paper in the interest of that party until 
the fall of 1881, when he changed its politics, taking 
up the banner of the National party. He was for six 
years Chairman of the Republican County Commit- 
tee, and since June, 1882, he has held a like position 
in the National, or Greenback, party. He has been, 
since .August, 1882, a member of the State Central 
Committee. He has attended three State Conven- 
tions of the Republican party, and one (August, 1882, 
at Grand Rapids) of the organization to which he 
now Ijelongs. 

Mr. Burton is quite a student, having pierhapB the 
largest librar)' in the county; and he is in every 
sense a public-spirited man, taking a deep interest in 
agricultural and school affairs. 



srael W. Martin, farmer, section 11, Homer 

Township, was lx)m May 18, 1829, in Dum- 

,' fries Township, Canada West. He resided 

in his native province until he was 15 years 

old, when he went to the State of New York 

and worked for a lumberman on the Erie CanaL 

He relumed to Canada, where he was occupied some 

time as a stage driver. His next venture was as a 

sailor on the lakes, where he operated two years. 

He again engaged in stage-driving, in which he was 

occupied until the year pirevious to that in which he 

came to Michigan. 

He was married March 18, i860, in Canada, to 
'^ Sarah Wells, who was bom in Ontario in 1833. One 
I of the two children bom to Mr. and Mrs. Martin is 
*,'* deceased. Delia L., Ijom Dec. 25, 1868, was mar- 
ried Dec. 25, 1882, to Alljert Green, a native of Mid- 
land County, bom June 30, 1861. 

On coming to Michigan Mr. Martin was emploj-ed 
in the saw-mill of Wright & Co. Late in the same 



f 






year they came to Midland County, where he pur- 
chased 83 acres of land, which has since been his 
home. He is a Republican, an^ has been Justice of 
the Peace three years. School Treasurer 15 years, and 
has served several terms as Highway Commissioner. 



f 



Vi> 



-4* 



i. ^ 



ei- 










Sri^<i»- 



^^>e^f^ 



■^m 



T^ 



oseph Ii. Campbell, farmer, section 22, 

Jerome Township, was l)om in the town of 

Poland, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 17, 

1838, and is the son of Jonas and Cynthia (De 

Jane) Campbell. His parents were bom in 

t' Orleans, Genesee Co., N. Y.. and are srill liv- 
ing, in Chautauqua County, in the Empire State. 

In the paternal line, Mr. Campbell is of .Scotch 
descent, and ('W his mother's side he comes of French 
stock. He remained under the paternal roof until 
he was 23 years old and operated as his father's as- 
sistant on the farm after, as before, he attained hb 
majority. 

On the outbreak of the Southern rebellion, he en- 
listed as a soldier, enrolling .Aug. 28, 1862, in Co. 
C, 9th N. Y. VoL Cav., and was mustered out Jan. 
30, 1865, after a long and arduous service. His first 
fight occurred at Berrj'ville, in the valley of the 
Shenandoah, four days after he joined the command. 
His next engagement was at Cob Run, and he next 
fought at Fredricksburg, under Burnside. On the 
first of .August, 1863, he fought from the Rappahan- 
nock and Rapidan through Culpeper, and on the last 
day of the month he fought the same ground over 
again, the sharpest contest being at Brandy Station. 
He was wounded May 8, 1864, at the battle of the 
Wilderness, receiving an injury from a minie ball in 
the upper part of the left arm, which necessitated the 
removal of alx>ut five inches of the bone. The 
operation was performed at the field hospital, whence 
he went to Douglas Hospital, Washington, and was 
transferred to the hcBpital on Blackwell's Island. 
He was sent thence to Fort .Schuyler Hospital, and '^■ 
was there discharged. He returned to his home in 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and soon after was placed 
on the pension list. 

He became the proprietor of a house and lot in 
the village of Jamestown, Chautauqua County, which ^ 
he sold in 1875, and reached Midland County on the ^ 

5^ 



r 
i 



^M^ 



^^/^^i;^m^ 



282 



«: cr-7<^IlIl^nil>>V 

MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^ 



) 



:^5 



' 3d day of April of that year. He at once entered a 
homestead claim of 80 acres in the township of 
Jerome, and has about 12 acres under the plow, and 
eight acres chopped ready for clearing. 

Mr. Campbell was married June 21, 1873, to Edsia 
E., daughter of Eliscom C". and Lucy (Stearns) Rob- 
inson. Her father is living in Jamestown, Chautau- 
qua County. Her mother died in 1868, in Poland, 
in the same county. Both parents were natives of 
(Chautauqua County, where Mrs. Campbell was born, 
Nov. 17, 1 85 1. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Campbell were born as follows. Irving, Nov. 19, 
1S74, at Jamestown, N. Y.; Lucy, Nov. 13, 1876; 
Frank, Feb. 14, 1879; Joseph L., April 27, 1S81; 
Edith, April 26, 1883. All but the eldest child were 
born in Jerome Township. 

Mr. Campbell is independent in [lolitics, and has 
been elected Justice of the Peace this present year. 
He has declined all other offices tendered him. 






r 'fv:' ames C. Howe, farmer, sec. 4, Larkin Town- 
(j shi)), is a sou of William and Almira(Ken- 



S<^'^ 



dall) Howe, natives of Jefferson Co.,N. Y., 



I 



and was born in the Dominion of Canada, 
Marcli II, 1827. He was (juite young when 
his parents removed to Jefferson Co., N. ¥., 
where he lived until 23 years old. He then came to 
Emmett County, this State, where he was engaged 
principally in fishing for five years. Next he lived a 
short time in Wisconsin and for a brief period in his 
native county; and in October, 1870, he came to 
this county and bought 80 acres in Lincoln Town- 
ship. After six years' residence there he removed to 
Larkin Township, and purchased r6o acres. He 
now owns 53 acres, 30 of which are in cultivation. 
Nov. 29, 1847, was the date of his marriage in 
Jefferson Co., N. Y., to Miss Fidelia Gotham. She 
was born Nov. 3, 1831, the daughter of Solo- 
mon and Elizabeth E. (King) Gotham, natives of 
New Hampshire and New York, respectively. Of 12 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Howe, the eight sur- 
vivors are named William H., Phineas, Mary E , 
Amanda V., Isaac A., Elmer E., John T. and Rachel 
R. The four deceased were named James B., Plii- 
lena A., Emma E. and Christiana J. 

Mr. 11. is in political sentiment a National, an 




has been Justice of the Peace and Drain Commis- 
sioner of Larkin 'i'ownship. In Lincoln Townsliip 
he was Highway Commissioner and To-.vnsliip Treas- 
urer. He and wife are members of the Christian 
Ciuircli. 



■■=¥^^ 



5fe 



~^<s> 



4 !;^".^li Hubbard, farmer, section 35, Midland 

: =f Township, is a son of James and Fanny 

J^.L^' l^Pumaville) Hubbard, who were natives re- 

^ spectively of Massachusetts and Lower Can- 

T ada. After a residence in New York State, 

j they emigrated to Saginaw Co., Mich., in 1835, 

where Mr. 11. died. His widow afterward died in 

(jenesee Co., Mich. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Niagara 
Co., N. Y., Jan. 6, 1824, and was 1 1 years old when 
he came to Michigan with his parents, witii whom 
he remained most of the time until their death, con- 
tributing to their support. He was married in Gene- 
see Co., Mich., to Miss Marcia Hurd, a native of the 
State of New York. The names of their five chil- 
dren are, John S., James R., Polly, Laura O. and 
Frances L. The first-mentioned died May 8, 1880, 
when 33 years of age. Mrs. Hubbard died Nov. 20, 
1880. 

Mr. Hubbard has held the offices of Highway 
Commissioner and Constable, and the various school 
offices of his district. In politics he coincides with 
the Republican party. He is now the owner of 70 
acres of land in Midland Townshij), and has about 
50 acres in a good tillable condition. 



^l^^jlCoseph R. Cr adit, farmer, section 14, Homer 
)3^^|t' Township, was born June 4, 185 i, in Che- 
!!>•''' mung Co., N. Y. He is the son of Sylves- 
J; '.' ter and Sarah (Trumbull) Cradit. His parents 
'l[C are natives of the State of New York, of New 
i England parentage, and descended respectively 
from German and Scotch ancestors. His father is a 
skilled blacksmith and farmer, and has been a resi- 
dent with his family in Homer Township 12 years. 
They are aged 75 and 76 years, and have been the 
parents of nine children. 

Mr. Cradit is the youngest of the children born to 



*«r.> 



V^ 



^«^r|- 



■^<c^iiii^nD;t>-^ — ^«»^ 



1^^^^ 



c 



( 



i 




^1 






"%»- 



<;wm^>T 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



»83 



s 



I 






^ 



f^) 



/?S 



:-<$ 



V 



') 



J 



f 
I 



his parents, and was hut three years old when the 
family settled in Van Buren Co., Mich. Fourteen 
years later they became residents in Midland County 
and settled on a small farm in Homer Township, on 
which they are yet resident with their son. It is 
nearly all improved and cultivated. Mr. Cradit is a 
member of the National Greenback party. 

His marriage to Amy E. Fulmer occurred Oct. 
i6, 1873, in Midland City. She was born Dec. 15, 
1856, in Montgomery Co., N. Y., and is the daughter 
of Levi and Rhoda (Fineout) Fulmer. She removed 
to this county when she was eight years old, with her 
parents. The children now included in the family 
circle are Rhoda, bom Oct. 29, 1878; Fred, June 11, 
i88r, and Levi, June 6, 1883. The parents are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
which Mr. Cradit is Second Steward. 



I illiam McCrary, farmer on section 22, 

Hope Township, was born June 14, 1824, 

in County Antrim, Ireland, the son of 

Robert and Grizzie (Magee) McCrary, and 

came to Clark's Mills, Can_, from the Emerald 

5 Isle, in 1834. His father purchased a farm of 

65 acres, where he lived until death. The mother 

also died on this place. 

The subject of this sketch was one of a family of 
seven, — six sons and one daughter, — all of whom 
grew to years of maturity. He lived on the home- 
stead until 25 years old, and then he bought 160 
acres of land, which he had commenced to pay for 
when 22 years of age. March i, 1853, he came to 
this State ; and for one year he worked a farm on 
shares in Ingham County. Jan. 12, 1857, he moved 
to this county with his family, and for one year 
boarded with David Burton, in what was then Jerome, 
but is now Edenville Township. During a part of 
this year he was again in Ingham County, harvesting 
his wheat sown the year before. The remainder of 
his time, however, he devoted to building a log house 
for his family, and clearing his land in Hope Town- 
ship, which he had secured in the following manner : 
" Hank " Ashman, a half-breed lawyer of Midland 
City, told him to go on an even section, settle on a 
certain tract, and take his chances in buying the land 
when it came into, market. This happened three 




years later, and he then paid for 160 acres at 50 
cents per acre. He now has a fine farm, with suit- 
able farm buildings. 

Nov. 24, 1854, was the date of his marriage to 
Miss Agnes McWilliams, daughter of William and 
Jane (Kissick) McWilliams. Her father was drowned 
in Napanee River, Canada, when Agnes was five 
years old, and the mother died seven years later, at 
Clark's Mills. Mrs. McCrary was one of a family of 
seven, — two sons and five daughters, — and was lx)rn 
Dec. 2-1, 1838. 

The eight children of Mr. and Mrs. McCrary are 
as follows: Ida M., Ijorn June 20, 1856, in Ingham 
Co., Mich., and married May 12, 1878, to Abram L. 
Wismer; Ferdinand W,,born Jan. zo, i860, in Jerome 
Township, this county, and married March 6, 1884, 
Rosa B. Evans; Alice M., born Feb. 23, 1862, in 
Lincoln (now Hope) Township, married April 14, 
1878, to Henry Wismer, and died Feb. 10,1884,0! 
spinal disease; Lydia A , born Aug. 5, 1864, in Lin- 
coln (now Hope) Township; Ina E., born July 22, 
1867, in Lincoln (now Hope) Township; William H., 
born July 6, 1871, in Hoije Township; Elva A., born 
Oct. 29, 1872, in Hope Township; Almon J., born 
Feb. 7, 1874, in Hope Township, and died Nov. i, 
1880. 

Mr. McCrary is in pfjlitical faith a Republican. 
He has been Highway Commissioner one term, and 
School Director one year. He and wife were bap- 
tized in the Church of England. 



kaniel McKinnon, lumberman and farmer 
on section 12, Homer Township, was bom 

^^ Aug. 12, 1842, in Scotland. When he was 
"jNJai three years old he accompanied his parents 
■^ to America, and settled in Ontario, Can., whence, 

i after a short residence, they removed with their 
family to Port Huron, Mich. They are yet residing 
there, aged respectively 75 and 62 years. 

Mr. McKinnon came to Midland County and en- 
gaged in lumbering, which has since been his chief 
occupation. In the spring of 1868 he bought 80 
acres of land, to which he has added by subsequent 
purchase until he now owns a tract of 240 acres, of 
which 70 acres are well improved and cultivated 
Mr. McKinnon is a Republican in political views. 










J^- 



4h 



-^MM^^y- 



^^^^ 





:2i^®^ 






:<$ 



> 
) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



#t^: 



S 



He was married Dec. 6, 1868, in Midland, to Isa- 
bella McKinnon. She came to this county the year 
she was married, and is a native of Canada. Nine 
children have been born of this marriage, three of 
whom are deceased. The living are, George, 
Charles, Daniel, John, Christina M. and Rebecca 
Ann. Those deceased died in infancy. The family 
attend the Presbyterian Church. 



n.maWS^^r 



^^4— «-®IS<^'2ftW>» 



im. 




il^ohn W. Ostrander, farmer, section 26, In- 
\r gersoll Township, is a son of Cornelius and 
Elizabeth (Van Arsdale) Ostrander, na- 
tives of New York State. He was born in 
Dutchess Co., N. Y., Sept. 13, 1829, where he 
lived till the spring of 1853; then was engaged 
in farming for ten years in Oakland Co., Mich. In 
February, 1863, he came to Midland County and 
settled upon 80 acres of land in IngersoU Township, 
which he had bought the previous fall. Three years 
afterward he returned to Oakland County and re- 
mained there until November, 1871, when he came 
again to his farm in IngersoU Township, where he 
has since resided, and has 40 acres improved, and a 
good farm. He has been Constable two years, and 
in his views of national affairs is Democratic. 

Mr. Ostrander was married in Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
May 20, 185 1, to Martha A., daughter of Jacob and 
Rosanna (Bower) Smith, who were natives of the 
Empire State. Mrs. O. was born in Cayuga Co., N. 
Y., May 20, 1834. Their children are, Adrian E., 
Elbert E., James D., Jacob H., Charles R., Byron R., 
Carrie R., Lillie J. and Willie C. The last men- 
tioned died in infancy. 



thbert B. Emory, M. D., section 26, Inger- 

«||^^K soil Township, was born in the county of 

§■-•^5^°''* Holton, Out., June 11, 1849. His parents, 

^^ Aaron D. and Jane (McVanNorman) Emory, 

\- were natives respectively of New Jersey and 

Canada, and now reside at Hamilton, Out. 
In his early life Dr. E. attended the common 
schools and other institutions of. learning, mostly the 
Homeopathic Hospital College at Cleveland, Ohio, 




where he graduated, in 1881. In 1875 '^^ came to 
Midland County, settling on a quarter section of 
land, which was a part of a tract of 700 acres, which 
had been taken up by his father in 1855. Since 
that time he has been a resident here, except three 
years in college, 1878-81. With his own hands he 
has cleared 50 acres, and put the ground in a good, 
tillable condition. He has bought a lot at Lee's 
Corners, oil which he has erected a good residence 
and where he now resides. Since 1880, with the ex- 
ception of a few months spent in college, he has 
practiced medicine, with good success. He has been 
Justice of the Peace three terms, and is now serving 
a fourth term. He has also been Health Officer for 
the past three years. He has also taught school one 
winter, in IngersoU Township. He is a member of 
the society of Orangemen, Good Templars and Sons 
of Temperance, and both himself and wife belong 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church, where for five 
years he has been Superintendent of the Sunday- 
school. Is Chairman of the Republican Township 
Committee. 

At Burlington, Ont., Feb. 21, 187 1, Dr. Emory 
married Eliza J., daughter of Capt. William and 
Matilda (Corey) Hall, who were natives respectively 
of Ireland and Canada. She was born in the county 
of Wentworth, Ont., June 11, 1851. Dr. and Mrs. 
Emory have had five children, namely : Florence 
M. M. M., Nellie C. L., Dunham W. B., Sarah E. V. 
and Ethbert B. Dunham died when three years old. 



starding Mills, farmer on section 26, Hope 
Township, was born in Nova Scotia, Sept. 
^1^ 17, 1827, the son of Peter and Phebe (Wil- 

liams) Mills. The father was born in Nova 
Scotia, about 1795, and the mother in the same 
Province, in 1799. Both died in Southwould 
Township, Elgin Co., Can. Of their 14 children, 
six sons and four daughters grew to maturity. 

On arriving at the age of 21, Harding accepted 
employment in a ship-yard, where he worked two 
years. Though he had not served an apprenticeship, 
he was familiar with the use of tools. At the end 
of the two years, he followed his parents to Elgin 
County, and rented farms for seven years. Next, he 
came to Macomb County, this State, arriving Oct. 5, 




i^ 



V6) 



f 



r~- 



^ 



c<^: 



^sy 



t 



^f'K®^^^ 



^ 



<^tlD^(lIlv> 



Jl. 



-«4?? 




c 

m , 



.1i 
I 
I 

I' 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^^ii.' 



285' 



^ 
/% 



V 



> 



t 



a 



1^7, vbeie fur three jeais be teated £anns 00 
shares, and also vodced on gcavd raads. Jan. i, 
1861, be came to tUs anatj, being five dajs on the 
vaj. The move was made vitb two doaUe teams 
of horses and one sing^ He boo^ht 40 acres where 
be now lives, under the Gtad nation Act; and in 18S4 
be also bomesteaded 80 acres on sectioo 36. Tbis 
land was in an entitdj wild state, and now be has 
nedeemed 73 acres to caUvation, and has good boose 
and barns. 

He was joined in maniage Majr r5, tSjr.lo Mis 
Lavinia E. Allen, dangjuerof William and Margaret 
(Foster) Allen. Mr. and Mis. A- were natives of 
Nova Sootia, of En^ish and ^iew Errand descent, 
respectivelf , and leared a £amiljr of two sons and 
seven dan^btets. Mis. Mills was bora Majr 4, rSjz, 
n Siova Scotia, and has been tlie motfaerof six ddl- 
dren, three o( whom are fiving. FoUomne is the 
record . George UHham was boia Apdl 19. r85z, in 
El^n Qk, Can^ and died March 29, r 87 2; Melinda 
L. was bom Fdi. r, t855, in El^in Co., Can^ Me- 
liUa C. was bora F^, ro, 1S57, in Ef^n Co.. Caau 
and died Fcit. 25, rS72: Solas H. was bora Jan. 23, 
i860, in MacombCo., Michu, and died March 8, 1863, 
in tins ooonty; Henrietta A., was bom Ang. 23, 
t862, in Hope Towidnp^ this ooonlj; W31aid J. 
was bora Sept. 6, r867, in the same lownsbipL 

Mr. >L is politicailf a Repabfican. He has been 
Justice of the Peace two terms, Township Tieasarer 
several terms, Coontj CorDoer fanr tenms, and was 
the Census Enoraetator far Ins snb-^tdct in rSSo. 
He and wife adboe to the Baiidst iaith. 



^ i"^^.;. aamer, section r r. Homer 
. >jwnsliip, was bora March 4, 1844, in 
-J. Canu His parents are still resi- 
■-. and aged iespertivd|y 78 and 72 
When be was 14 years old he was 
'iTiTxed to learn the trade of a Uadcsaith, 
be served three 5«ai^afier which he worked 
as a jviimejnnan. He found it detrimental 
10 his health and finallf alwndoaed it as a vocation 
altogether; and has since operated as a fiarmei^ In 
the fall of r874 be came to Michigan and bou^tt 
I ro acres of land on section tt. It comprised two 
farms, one of 40 acres, the other of 70 acres. Of 




this, 40 acres are well imptDved asid supplied with 
good &rm building The cyclone of Sept. 6, t882, 
destnojred Ins building and seriooslj damaged bis 
stocic, but he has re-bmlt and practicaOjr recovered 
fiom the loss involved. He is a Democrat in hK 
political Vi&rs. 

Mru Phillips was married March 5, tS74, to Maiy 
Knorke, ot Kii^ton, Ont. Sbe wa& bora 3ibv. 9, 
r846. Fonr chatdtea have been Loro of tbis onion, 
as follows: WUHe, Feb. 7, r875; EmtsL, Fefc. 17, 
r877; Benjamin, Feb. 2, r88o; Sacah, Aug. 7, 1882. 




eorge Openo, g^Mxal fanner on section 4, 

Lee Towi^np, was bora in Hamburg, 

Cermanj, Kov. 28, r826, and was diree jears 

^- old whoi Ins farents fmigrated with him to 
America. After Uvir^ six jears near Kocfaes- 
ter, N. Y., his fother came to Michigan and located 
in Milfbtd Townsfaipv Oaldand County, at whidi 
time only two log bosses had been erected in that 
town^p: be was therefore the third settled there. 
Pontiac was oolv a shantr town, and the whole 
ooon^ was wild. George's parents were Joseph and 
Mary (Soe) Opeiw.of German nativity and ancestry, 
who occupied a qnarter-sectioo of land in Oaldand 
County, where they died, — the former in the winter 
of 1879, aged 87, and the latter in r869, aged 66. 

Mc Opeco, the sobfect of tfas sketch, remained 
at his parmtal home until be was 25 years old, when 
he was married, in Milfoid Townships Oakland 
County, to Mis Jnfia E., dan^bter of James and 
Mary (Bddin) WUte, native of the old Granite 
State and of New En^and ancestry. Mrs. O. was 
bora in the State of New York, Sept. t8, tSu, and 
was seven yearsof age when bioa^bt, by removal of 
the fomily,tD Oaldand Co., Mkh. 

After maniagr. Mr. O. txmtbmed to reside in Oak- 
land Coonty, engaged in farming, iwtil r879, when 
he moved to this cxmnty arid purchased 440 acres, 
on sectioas 4, 5 and 8, Lee Township; but be now 
owns only 80 acres, trith about 20 i mp m ved. 
- The children of Mr. Openo by his first marriage 
are six in number, as follows: Joseph E., bora Ma^ 
6, r854: Tbeodove U Feb. 26, t%6; Clement J., 
April 26. r858; Edwin G^OcL 24, r86!»: Hemy T., 
Jlatdi t6, t863; and Claia A, Ma^ 6, t865. Mrs. 



I 



A 



^ 






^ 



r 






.;:,-V^- 



>* " 






m 



286 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



Openo died at her home in this townshii) (Lee), 
Sept. 26, 1882, and Mr. O. was again married, in 

tLee Township, March 27, 1884, to Mrs. Loudema 
A. Shinn (Reeder), 7iee Kee, a native of Trumbull 
f^ Co.,01)io, where she was born May g, 1832. She 
was first married, in that State, to Samuel Shinn, 
afterward to Draper Reeder, both of Ohio. By her 
first marriage she had two children, Lorena and 
Lewis, both of whom are now married. She came 
to Midland ("ounty in 18S3. Mr. and Mrs. (). are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is 
a Democrat, and has held the offices of Drain Com- 
missioner three years, Juslice of the Peace four 
years and Treasurer. Is now Juslice of the Peace. 



ohn P. Baleh, farmer, residing on section 
^ 20, Jasper Township, was born in the vil- 
lage of Nunney, in West Somersetshire, 
Eng., Sept. 8, 1815. Nunney is an old and 
"^r historical place, and contains a baronial castle 
'milt by one De La More about 1,100 years 
ago. It is 66 feet in height, and its walls are from 
10 to 12 feet thick. Oliver Cromwell's army de- 
spoiled it and left it in a ruined condition, after a 
severe bombardment, to render it of no farther use to 
King Charles. 

In this village Mr. B. attended school for a time; 
but in 1824 he entered an academy on the road lead- 
ing to Bath, where he studied seven years. He then 
returned to help his father (Henry Balch) in the 
business of butchering pork and dealing in groceries. 
He shortly afterwards visited London, then was at 
home for a time, then went to London once more, for 
business experience. 

He first came to America in the year 1830, with his 
father, landing at New York June 10; and after 
traveling in the State of New York till Sept. r, re- 
turned to England. His fatlier was in good circum- 
stances, and decided that he could do well enough 
for John in his native country; so the latter remained 
with his parents until 32 years old. He was in Lon- 
don at the time of the proclamation of the queen, 
and also at her coronation, in 1837. 

At the age mentioned, lie assumed entire manage- 
ment of the business, and a little later his father died, 




«S5» 





aged 62. A year after, Mr. Balch was married, his 
choice being a second cousin 17 years old. She was 
Elizabeth Savage, eldest of 1 1 children ot Richard 
Savage. The wedding ceremony was performed in 
Trinity Cathedral, Bristol, Dec. iq, 1848. The fol- 
lowing year, Mr. B.'s mother died, aged 72. 

He carried on the business "inherited" from his 
father until November, 1849, when he held a two- 
days auction to sell out, and started with his wife to 
seek a permanent home in the United States. They 
sailed from London Jan. 9, 1850, and arrived at New 
York Marcli 2. The first year they lived at and near 
Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and at Youngstown 
and Coitsville, in the same State. 

April 5, 1S52, Mr. B. set out for California, leaving 
his wife near Warren with an English family. He 
arrived at the Golden City May 5, and after a stay 
of 17 months in California, returned home at the so- 
licitation of his wife. He came by way of Nicaragua, 
and the spring following took a farm in Pulaski, 
Western Pennsylvania, on shares. Leaving this in 
the fall, he rented another farm in Coitsville, Mahon- 
ing Co., Ohio, where he remained several years, en- 
gaged in the manufacture of cheese and butter. He 
made $900 in two years. 

He then lived for two years at Braceville, between 
Warren and Cleveland, after which he decided to 
visit the Peninsular State, with a view to making a 
permanent home here. When he arrived at St. Louis, 
Gratiot County (1861), he found five houses and a 
mill. He located the following year in what is now 
Jasper Township, in a rough and unsubdued region, 
and bought 200 acres of land under the Graduation 
Act, at 25 cents per acre. He resided on this land 
(section 18 and 19) until he received the deed for his 
tract, when he exchanged it for his present place on 
section 20. His wife and five children came the fol- 
lowing spring. After makmg his location, he took up 
the trade of shoemaking, without any previous in- 
struction, and for 16 years he devoted a portion of 
his time to making boots and shoes, succeeding re- 
markably well, in consideration of the circumstances. 

For six years after his first settlement, he and his 
eldest son carried on their backs all their sufjplies, 
flour, etc., which was tedious work, there being then 
no chance for "lifts" on the road. He generally 
carried 45 to 50 pounds of flour at a load, over a dis- 
tance of nominally eight miles, but which afterward 



i 



\^ 






( 



I 



^ 



(^^m^- 



<'W^M'^ 




r 

f 



S; 



'^Ssaf^r 



<m^\y^v^ 



•^J/i 



'ire' 



-«A?^ 



MIDLAXD COUNTY. 



m 



287 












?li 



^ 






V 



proved to be nine or ten. Strict economy was neces- 
sary to enable the Canuly to secure a comfortable 
home in this neir country, and all worked hard. They 
suffered at times from that common afiliction of new 
comers, fever and ague. Their nearest neighbors 
were Alson Bailey and his son B. B. Bailey, four 
miles southeast. Six miles to the north were Thomas 
Martin, William T, Depue, M. S. Depue and father, 
Nicholas Depue, engaged in hunting and trapping. 
When these few neighbors assembled, on rare occa- 
sions, their pleasure was as great as only pioneers can 
appreciate. The only others seen by Mr. Balch's 
family were chance travelers, who were of course like 
angels' visits, " few and far between." 

He early tried dairying, which he had frJlowed 
successfully in Ohio. Purchasing five cows, he made 
cheese as fast as he was able, finding a ready sale 
for the same at 25 cents i>er pound. He also made 
a considerable amount of butter. 

Mr. Balch had no team until he reared some 
steers, and much of the clearing of his land was ac- 
complished by hand labor. Industry and economy 
have met their due reward, and Mr. B. b now re- 
spected as one of the substantial citizens of his town- 
ship and count}'. He is one of whom the younger 
generation now growing up can well take lessons. 

The family of Mr. B. numbers nine. Charles, 
I>aura, Albert, John P. and Henry were bom in Ohio; 
and Fred R-, Wlliam, Valentine and James B. in 
this count)'. 

.\t the first election which Mr. B. attended in this 
county (1865), he was chosen Super^-isor, which 
office he retained for three successive years. He has 
also been School Inspector and Treasurer, and is now 
Justice of the Peace. 




y^: 



V^ 



obert J. Crawford, miller on section 25, 
Laikin Township, is a son of Daniel and 
Catherine (Smith) Crawford, natives of 
. .^ Ireland, and was born in Hamilton, Ont., 
)y May 10, 1835. He came, in 1855, to Gene- 
' see Co., this Stale, where he lived four years, 
and then he purchased 80 acres in Laikin Township, 
this county, where he has lived since, with the ex- 
ception of a year and a half in the West. He is now 




foreman in the saw and shingle mill of D. P. Waldo. 
July 22, 1861, in Buffalo, N. Y., Miss Carrie V. 
Cody, a native of Ohio, became Mrs. Crawford, and 
of thb marriage there is one daughter, Laura. Polit- 
ically, Mr. C. votes with the National party. 



osepb J. Winslow, farmer, sectbn 35, In- 
gersoU Township, is a son of Loring S. and 
Mary (Brown) Winslow, — the former a 
native of the Empire State, and the latter ol 
^JT the Green Mountain State. After marriage 

I they lived in Barnard, Vt., until the fall ot 
1867, when they came West and settled in Ingersoll 
Township, on land which he had entered from the 
Government during the administration of Frankh'n 
Pierce. He lived in this township until his death, 
which occurred March 20, 1876. His widow sur- 
vives, and is a resident of Ingersoll Township. 
Their seven children were all sons, named Joseoh J., 
Charles H., Loring -S., Jr., Curtis J. (sketch else- 
where), John E., William G. and Franklin P. 

The eldest of the foregoing was bom in Barnard, 
Vt., May 17, 1844, attended the common and high 
schools of his State to the age of r8 years, when, 
Sept. 17, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, i6th Vt Regt., 
as fifer,and served in that capacity till August, 1863, 
when he was mustered out. After passing nearly a 
year in Vermont, he re-enlisted in the Ninth Vt. 
Regt., about .Sept 15, 1864, and served till the close 
of the war, being one of the first Yankee soldiers to 
cany a musket into the city of Richmond when that 
place fell into the hand of the Union forces. During 
his first term of enlistment he was confined in the 
hospital about three weeks with lung fever; but dur- 
ing his second enlistment he was not off duty a 
single day on account of sickness. He was in the 
terrible battle of Gettysburg, Pa,, Chajan's Farm, 
Va., and the last battle before Richmond, on the 
Williamsburg road. 

After his discharge from the army, he spent a year 
in his native State, and for nearly a year was engaged 
with his father on marble worit, lettering gravestones. 
He came to Midland County in March, 1866, and 
bought 80 acres of unimproved land in Ingersoll 
Township, where he has since resided, and has about 
25 acre^ under gfxxi cultivation. 



¥ 
^ 



I 



0r\x^m^ 



V 

7'-' 
f 






'^: 






■^^^^ 



■%7^Dfl^ 



Pi 



m^^ 



"^^^ 



■ «a :» « ■ ? 



^u^ 



m/i^^ti- 



288 



f 






>0 



o 



^) 



-^ 



I 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




-^^m\Wf^ 



Mr. VVinslow has been Constable three years, 
Justice of tlie Peace 187 6-80 and 1883 to the present 
time, Township Supervisor 1880-1 and 1882-3. Al- 
though liberal in his temperance views, he has been 
President of the " Red-Ribbon Club." In his politi- 
cal views he is a Democrat. 

Mr. Winslow was married in Richland, Saginaw 
County, June 12, 1870, to Miss Mary S., daughter of 
Gilbert and Dolly (Gibbs) Smith, who were natives 
of Massachusetts and New York respectively. Mrs. 
W. was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., May 25, 1851. 
Mr. and Mrs. W. are the parents of five children, 
namely: Lena R., Nellie J., Joseph L., Dolly M. 
and Ida C. 



J:['-I|v'<ndrew J. Shiveiy, farmer, st 
' > c j per Township, was born in 




section 30, Jas- 
Trumbull Co., 
Ohio, Sept. 13, 1844. His parents were Peter 
and Hannah (Flick) Shiveiy, still Residents of 
'j that county. He was brought up, attending 
the common and select schools and working on his 
father's farm, until 22 years of age, when, April 4, 
1 86 1, in Mahoning Co., Ohio, he married Miss Pris- 
cilla Anthony, a native of that county, born Feb. 26, 
1839. She became the mother of one child, Ida P., 
Dec. 9, i86r, and soon afterward died. Sept. 15, 
1864, in the same county, Mr. S. was again married, 
to Miss Mary F. Folk, a daughter of John and Mary 
(Calhoun) Folk, who were among the first of the 
white race born in Trumbull County, which at that 
time was twice its present size, including what is now 
Mahoning County, the present residence of her par- 
ents. She was born in Southington Township, Trum- 
bull County, Feb. 19, 1846, and was educated in the 
schools of lier native place. 

Mr. S. continued in agricultural pursuits in the 
above county a little more than a year, then moved 
to Portage County, that State, and followed farming 
and lumbering two years; then, in Mahoning County, 
engaged two years in lumber, flax and tow, then he 
lumbered alone for five years longer, then in farming 
again for two years, when, in 1879, he came to Mich- 
igan and purchased 147 acres, on section 30, where 
he now lives. This tract was then all in heavy tim- 
ber; and he has since cleared about 35 acres, and 
put about 20 into good, tillable condition. He has 



on his place a remarkable well. It is 41 feet deep 
and throws water up four feet above the surface of 
the ground. 

On national questions Mr. Shiveiy maintains Dem- 
ocratic views. Mrs. S. is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church. 




V^ 



■S=-=S= 



4- 




r— i.:n 



lj|.olon T. Hutehins, farmer, section 26, In- 
jersoll Township, is a son of Perley and 
[l^' Percy (Peake) Hutehins, who were natives 
of Vermont and passed their lives there. 

Tiie subject of this sketch was born in the 
Green Mountain State, March i, 1820, lived in 
his native State until 25 years of age, then ten years 
in Massachusetts, in various pursuits, then about 
five years in Vermont again, then three years in 
Genesee Co., Mich., and in November, 1856, came 
to Midland County, purchasing 80 acres of unim- 
proved land in Ingersoll Township, to which he has 
since added 80 acres, and now has about 45 acres 
under cultivation. 

Mr. Hutehins was married in Nashville, N. H., 
May 4, 1S48, to Joanna, daughter of George and 
Ellen (Blake) Cooley, of finglish ancestry. She was 
born in Lowell, Mass., May i, 1825. To Mr. and 
Mrs. H. have been born five children, namely : Al- 
bert A., George H., Byron R., Edward C. and Eva 
E. Albert A. died Sept 6, 1865. 

In regard to political affairs, Mr. H. is counted 
Democrat. 



^.^J!-J|— ;^.^ 




illiam Magee, farmer, section i, Jerome 



^.li^SKiyg Township, was born May 16, 1842, in 
i'^^'ri'^" Canada, and is the son of John and Mar- 
s' garet (Cronkright) Magee. His parents were 
born in the State of New York and are de- 
ceased. 

Mr. Magee was, from the age of six years until he 
reached mature life, a waif on the tide of humanity, 
and managed as well as he could to support himself. 
On arriving at a suitable age, lie engaged in work in 
the lumber woods, spending the winter seasons in 
that employment, and farming summers. He also 
spent one year in a store at Port Rowan, Canada. 



A 






•<-.• 
sy 

^ 



C', 



V 



r 



I 




1 





I 



■(b 






'^ 



o 



(!) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



4^^C(®V::; 



291 



In i860 lie came to Saginaw, and attended school in 
the winter and worked during the next summer on a 
farm. After spending a year in Saginaw, he returned 
to Canada, where he spent five years in the lumber 
woods, working on a farm and as salesman in a store. 
In the spring of 1S66 he returned to Michigan and 
settled in Midland County, where he has since re- 
sided. He first purchased a farm located two miles 
from that on which he now resides, of which he re- 
tained the ownership about one year. He has owned 
two other farms successively, and in May, 187 1, took 

<|% possession of the place on which he has since lived. 

^ It was partly improved at the date of his purchase, 
and at the present 60 acres are in creditable cultiva- 
tion. Mr. Magee has served tcvo terms as Highway 
Commissioner, and eight terms as Supervisor, and is 
still filling the position. 

He was married May 20, 1871, to Frances Etta, 
daughter of Jeremiah and Laura E. (Smith) Holmes. 
She was born Sept. 5, 1850. Her father died Oct. 
19, 1868, in this township. Her mother is yet living, 
with Mrs. Magee. The three children born of this 
union are recorded as follows: Georgiana E. was 
born May ig, 1872 ; Alma A. was born June 9, 1875 ; 
William A. was born Aug. 30, 1878. 




aniel M. Turner, farmer on section 18^ 
, Jasper Township, was born in Jefferson 



Co., Wis., Jan. 29, 1854, the son of Samuel 
and Grace (McLaughlin) Turner, and re- 
mained at home until 21 years old. At the age 
of ten, he came with his parents from the Bad- 
ger State to Lapeer Co., Mich., and a year later to 
Midland County. On attaining his majority he be- 
came the possessor of 50 acres on section 18, Jasper, 
where he has since made his home. 

Jan. I, 1877, he was joined in matrimony with 
Miss Ellen McCoy, daughter of Gilbert E. and Han- 
nah (Russell) McCoy. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy were 
born in Ohio and Connecticut, of Scotch and English 
ancestry. The fohner now resides in Jasper Town- 
ship; the latter died in that township, Nov. 15, 1879, 
aged 51. Mrs. Turner, their daughter, was born in 
Ingham County, this State, May 11, 1857, and was 
two years old when her parents removed to Seville 
Township, Gratiot County, and five years old when 





®,^^(k^ 



they removed thence to St. John's, Clinton County. 
Here she lived 12 years, and received her education. 
In 1873 she came with her parents to this county. 
The three children born of her marriage to Mr. Tur- 
ner were born and named as follows': Nelson, Oct. 
I, 1877; Reuben, April 20, 1879 (died Sept. 17, 
1879); Gracie, Aug. 22, 1880. 

Mr. T. has about 15 acres of his place improved. 
He is in political views a Republican, and has held 
the office of Drain Commissioner four years. 



ilbert Currie, deceased, formerly a resident 
on section 35, Midland Township, was born 

WF ^ Feb. 20, 1859, in the township of Haldi- 
mand, in the county of the same name, On- 
tario. He was the son of John and Mary 

1 (McDonald) Currie, natives of Argyleshire, 
Scotland. The parents grew to maturity in their 
native land, where they were married. Two years 
after that event, in 1848, they came to America and 
settled in Haldimand, where they were farmers. 
After a residence there of nearly 13 years, they re- 
moved with their family to Midland County. They 
had si.x children, born in the following order : John, 
June 15, 1847 (see sketch); Margaret, Mrs. Cornelius 
Howard, Dec. 25, 1849; Gilbert, who died three 
weeks after .birth; Archibald, April r, 1851, died 
Feb. 14, 1865; Dougald, June 6, 1853 (see sketch); 
and Gilbert, of this sketch. 

Mr. Currie, senior, on settling in Midland, bought 
53 acres of land, which he increased to 123 acres bv 
two subsequent purchases of 30 and 40 acres re- 
spectively. It was in an entirely wild condition, and 
on this farm father and sons labored until the death 
of the former, which occurred .April 2, 1875, caused 
by an attack of pleurisy. The mother resides with 
her son Dougald. 

Gilbert Currie received a common-school education 
and grew to manhood under the care and training 
of his parents. He possessed the sterling traits of 
the race to which he belonged, and had planned a 
life of usefulness and effort. On the death of his 
father he came into possession of 40 acres of land, 
and was engaged in its improvement with every pur- 
pose of pursuing the vocation to which he had been 
bred, when he was summoned hence. He died in 
Saginaw, April 7, i88r, from the resultsof an accident. 



I 



VS 






■<■■,• 



0) 





^)^f#^ 



^nnsnii>^-^ 



TT" 



(b 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



#^e(®^-l^ 



The sudden ending of a strong, young life is a sharp 
trial for those who liave watched and rejoiced in 
its promise and development, but the after-thought, 
though it cannot give sudden healing to the wound, 
is full of rest and peace. The unsullied soul, the 
proud, hopeful heart, the aspirations of the ambitious 
nature, all found perpetual purity, unchanging frui- 
tion and eternal life in the liome of endless day to 
which they were called. 

The portrait of Gilbert Currie, which is given on 
another page, is inserted in this volume by his sister, 
Mrs. Howard, and his brothers, John and Dougald, 
as an imperishable memento of tlieir unfaltering love 
and remembrance of him who has gone just a little 
before, and awaits them and his mother within the 
glory and brightness of the spheres. 



.0 



^i I 






^.J>fi§»lES» 



■•'l',-'','-JI'^- 



11 

•■■ffxl Pennsylvania-German parentage, born Seiit. 7, 
1812, and the mother born in Canada, of New 



bram L. Wismer, farmer on section 15, 

_—^^ Hope Township, is a son of Abram and 

'■^1 Isabella (Lincoln) Wismer, the former of 




England parentage, June 25, 1827. The 
father was by occupation a carpenter and pump 
manufacturer, and died in Elgin Co., Can., April 27, 
1876. The mother died in Billings Tp., Gladwin 
Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1877. Abram's grandfather 
lived to the venerable age of 97. 

The subject of this biography was born in Mala- 
hide Township, Elgin Co., Can., Nov. 9, 1854, and 
was one of a family of nine — six sons and three 
daughters. Three of the boys died in infancy. The 
remainder of the family are yet living. He remained 
at home until of age, learning his father's trade. He 
came to this county in 1876, and soon after bought 
his present farm on section 15, Hope Township. Of 
this 40 acres he has improved 30, and he lias erected 
a suitable frame house and barn. 

May 12, 1878, he formed a life partnership with 
Miss Ida M. McCrary. (See sketch of William Mc- 
Crary.) The ceremony was performed at Midland 
City, by Rev. W. H. Osborne. She was born June 
20, 1856, in Onondaga Township, Ingham Co., Mich. 
To this marriage have been given two sons: \ViIliam 



H., who was born Jan. 23, 1879; and Adelbert J., 
April 19, 1882, — both in Hope Township. 
Politically, Mr. W. is a Republican. 



^■^^ 



^— 



^ 



I eorge Higgins, proprietor of the Sanford 
House at Sanford, vfa.s born Aug. 24, 1839, 

(S~ ^ in Canada, and is the son of John and 
' Jp J Josette (Scheler) Higgins. His father died in 
Springfield, Can. 

Mr. Higgins began his contest with the 
world when he was 1 1 years old. He has a natural 
a|)titude for the use of tools and early in life learned 
the business of boiler-making and blacksmithing. 
He went from the Dominion to the State of New 
York and came thence to Saginaw, Mich., about the 
first of March, r865. He first found employment in 
a brick-yard, where he continued five months. His 
next remove was to Tittabawassee, where he operated 
between three and four years. He went thence to 
the city of Saginaw and engaged in keeping a board- 
ing saloon. Eight months later he bought a hotel at 
Edenville, Midland County. He continued its man 
agement between two and three years, when the 
property was destroyed by fire. The entire loss was 
between four and five thousand dollars. He held an 
insurance policy of $2,500, on which he realized 
$2,000. He then came to Sanford and established 
himself in the business of hotel-keeping in a frame 
house on the bank of the river. It was situated on 
the flat and was subject to the interesting vicissitudes 
common to high water in this section of Michigan. 
The lower floor was frequently flooded and business 
suffered accordingly. In 1875 he bought his present 
location of Charles Sanford, and moved his effects 
hither in a scow. On his return the following day, 
he found tlie water waist deep in the lower story of 
the house he had left. May 15, 1884, he was again 
visited l)y the destroying element, fire, and his hotel 
was burned to the ground, together with a iwrtion of 
the furniture. It was insured for $2,500, and the 
furniture was insured for $500. At the present writ- 
ing he is rebuilding. 1 

Mr. Higgins owns a farm of 187 acres of land on ^K» 
section 24, of Jerome Township, with 27 acres im- f® 
proved. He also owns six town lots in Sanford. He 
has officiated six terms as Highway Commissioner 
and as Deputy Siieriff eight years. 






( 



fQ) 



i^V®))«^# 



-^m'^. 




p 



•ry 






MIDLAND COUNTY 



4^^(@V|^ 



■^9i 



J 






^ He was married Aug. i6, 1861, to Elizabeth A.- 
?p daughter of William Henry and Helen (Hilliard) 
'■II O'Connell. Her father was born Aug. 15, lySi.iii 
'i Limerick. Ireland, and died Feb. 5, 1873, in Hamil- 
i ton, Can. The mother was born June 8, 1796, in the 
-^ city of Dublin, and died Oct. 20, 1873, in the same 
place where the demise of her husband occurred. 
Mrs. Higgins was born in Toronto, Can., Oct. 28, 
1838. Following is the record of the children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Higgins: Henry A. was born Nov. 2, 
1863, in Springfield, Can., and was married March 
14, 1883, at Edenville, to Hattie J. Stratton. The 
marriage ceremony was performed by Daniel Grover, 
J. P. George T., the child of this marriage, was 
born April 7, 1884. Helen J. Higgins was born 
Aug. 10, 1864, at Georgetown, Can., and was mar- 
ried Aug. 8, 1883, to W. A. Ryan at Sanford, by J. A. 
Sprague, Presiding Elder at Big Rapids. Anna 
Belle Higgins was born Aug. 13, 1871, at Edenville, 
Mich. Albert Higgins was born Aug. 3, 1873, at 
Sanford. 

atts A. Chatterton, druggist, Coleman, 
was born Jan. 14, 1856, in Ingham Co., 
.m^^i^r Mich., and is a son of George A. and Jane 
j||^> (Thompson) Chatterton, of English and Ger- 
man descent. His father, a farmer, followed 
agriculture several years after coming to Mich- 
igan, sold his farm and removed to Hubbardston, 
Ionia County, engaging in mercantile business; after 
a while he sold out to his brother, since which time 
he has been in the insurance business. 

The subject of this sketch received his education 
in the common schools of Ingham and Ionia Coun- 
ties ; was ten years of age when his father removed 
to Hubbardston, where he assisted him two years in 
the store. When he became of age he went into 
mercantile business with his uncle; three years after- 
ward he sold out his interest to him and engaged in 
(^ the grocery business at Bancroft ; two years after that 
I he sold out again and engaged in general merchan- 
J}^ disc at Leaton, Isabella County, and in two years he 
"(^ again sold and came to Coleman, purchased a build- 
-j( ing and set up in the drug trade, including books 
r^ and sundries, and is doing well. 
V Feb. 16, 1879, Mr. C. married Miss Eva L., daugh- 




ter of James and Amanda (Haver) Rummer, of Ger- 
man and French descent. Her father is living on a 
farm in North Shade Township, Gratiot Co., Mich., 
and her mother in Shiawassee Co., Mich., in 1865. 
She (Mrs. C.) was born Dec. 6, 1858, in the last 
mentioned county. Mr. and .Mrs. C. have one child, 
Elva L , born March 14, 1884. 



-» 



A A 



7~r 






E>- 




ilbert B. Goflf, farmer on section 9, Hope 
Tp., was born Fel>. 27, 1836, in Licking Co., 
Ohio, the son of Shadrach and Hannah 
(Grabiel) Goff. The father was a native of 
Rutland Co., Vt., and of English descent, and 
died in I,icking Co., Ohio, in the fall of 1869, 
at the age of 63. The mother was of German de- 
scent and died in the same county as her husband. 
There were th^ee sons and one daughter in their 
family, all of whom are yet alive. 

The subject of this record remained at home until 
of age, receiving a common-school education. He then 
rented a farm for some four years, at the expiration 
of which time he came to this State and county with 
a man named Conard and four others, for the pur- 
pose of hunting and trapping. Conard and Mr. Goff 
remained, while in a few months the remainder re- 
turned East. For six years after coming, he boarded 
with Capt. Marsh, at Midland. He passed four win- 
ters in hunting and trapping, and devoted the re- 
mainder of his time to lumbering. 

He was united in wedlock April 10, 1866, with 
Miss Emily A Marsh, daughter of Alvin and Laura 
A. (Holmes) Marsh. Mr. M. was born in Tompkins 
Co., N. Y., and Mrs. M. in Onondaga Co., same 
State, near Syracuse. They moved to Saginaw Co., 
this State, in the fall of 1854, and came to Midland 
County in the fall of 1859. They now reside in 
Edenville Township. Mrs. Goff, their daughter, was 
born Sept. 30, 1847, in New Hudson Townshii), 
Allegany Co., N. Y. 

Mr. Goff and wife settled in the spring of 1867 on 
his farm, which he had purchased in 1861. At the 
time they made their home there, but six acres were 
cleared. He has added no acres to his original 
purchase of 60 acres. Three children have been 
added to the family circle: Gilbert B., born Aug. 27, 



9 



0) 



t 

I 



j:^ 



<^nm^'^ 



j^ 



j^^ 



^k^^ 




^^r®^^9<|- -^^&<^ r--7<inil^liD^> 



294 



V X .HU<C>HU. • V 

MIDLAND COUNTY 







) 



1871, in Fveeland, Mich.; Krnest A., born March 24, 
1873, in Hopo Townshii); and Laura A., Imrii June 
19, i88i, also in Hope Township. 

Mr, Ci. is poHtically a Rci)ul)Hcan, bul has iini- 
lorinly dcrhiK'd the official jiosition tendered him. 
He and wile are members of the Seventh-Pay Ad- 
venlists. 1 le rememiicrs many interesting inciilenis 
of tile early years of this county, and regards Mr. 
John l.arkin with esiiecial gratilviile, for having in 
i8()j indorsed a note and Ihus helped him to get his 
first yoke of cattle. 



-v'^l^^l'f osoph E. Opono, farmer on section 5, Lee 
E- Township, is a son of George Openo, whose 
11^.* sketch is given elsewhere in this Aii.um. 
He was born in Oakland ("o., Mich., May 6, 
1854, and lived at his parental home, assisting 
on the farm and attending school, until he was 
25 years of age, when he married Miss Adella E. 
Taylor, who was born in Milford Township, that 
county, and one year after their nuirriago they came 
and settled where he now resides. She died, of con- 
sumption, at her home, March 19, 18S2, a member 
of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church. She left one 
child, ],o/.ada 1,., who was born ^L'ly 7, 18S0. 

Mr. Openo has held the otlice of Township Treas- 
urer two years, and is now Justice of the I'eace. As 
to political issues lie voles with the Reiniblican 
party. 



-5 ■^■^^>^^^^ — 




jai'k E. Turner, farmer on section 51, 
Ias\ier Township, was born iu I'ulaski 
'^'iP'Jj^ 'Township, Jackson Co., Mich.. May 1, 
ylS(^^\ 1S41, the son of Henry and S.im.iiitlia 
(r>aker) Turner, natives of New York and 
Massachusetts, and of New I'higland ancestry. 
The father h.is followed agriculture all his life, came 
to Jackson County when it was very new and Michi- 
gan was n Territory, and is now a resident of Jasper 
Township, this county. The mother tiled in Jacksim 
County, about 1857. 

The subject of this biography is the seccnd child 
and second son in a family of four children, and was 
reared in his father's home in Jackson County. He 



worked for his father until 25 years old, at which age 
he was married. This event occurred in his n.itive 
tt)wnship, Jan. 1, 1865, anil the lady of his choice 
was Miss Mary Huik, daughter of Samuel ami llar- 
liel (Waller) lUuU, natives of New iMiglaml and of 
ICnglish descent. Mr. Uuck is now a resident of 
.1'',tna Township, Mecosta Counly. Mrs. Turner 
was Inirn in t)rleans Co., N. \'., Jan 17, 1847, anil 
came with Ikt p.ncnls lo this Stale when seven years 
of age. 

In A|iril, 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Turner came lo Cra- 
liol County, remaining l8 months ; then they returneil 
to Jackson I'ounly for a year, after which they car- 
rieil on f.irming in h'tna Township, Mecosta County, 
until 1878. In that year they came to this counly 
and purchased 80 acres of land in Jasper 'I'ownship. 
lie has now 35 acres improved. 

Mr. T. is a Republican and has held the minor 
offices of hivs township. To his family have belonged 
si.x children, as follows: Kali)h,born Dec. 25, 1S65 ; 
Fred, June 18, 186S; Eva, May 10,1870; Florence, 
Aug. 5, 1874 (died Se])t. 26, 1874); Lewis, June 28, 
1877, and h'slella, July 10, 1880. 









■— *w-^-i-Si^-- 



^W^, 



j-^Ai'^^zra C. Goodapood, farmer, section 32, Tn- 
c U^^iik iu' gcrsoll Township, was born .April 11, 18141 
(/||iW^ wheie is now ihe famous Saratoga Springs. 
*■'' His father, Daniel Cioods[)eed, descended from 
iMiglish parents, and died in Steuben Co., N. Y., 
about the year 1.850. His mother died when 
he was bat four years old. He soon fell under the 
care of a step-mother, whose treatment of the mother- 
less chilil awakened the indignation ol the neighbors, 
by whom his cause was defended and he maile the 
recipient of their kind orticcs until he was old enough 
lo coiUenil with the world in his own behalf, lie 
makes this [lennanent record of the kindness he le- 
ceived with a graliiude that has increased with the 
passing years. When he was 14 years old he went 
to the county of Tyrone, I'a., where he engaged in 
farm labor and lumbering four years. He went next 
to I'orlage Co., Ohio, and, two years subsequently, 
to the city of Milwaukee, where he stayed two years, 
occupied chiefly as a carpenter. At the end of that 
time he went to Huron Co., Ohio, and pursued the 
same vocation. 



(^ 



■ <-• 

V 



'Vi3J«5iK|' 



•^&. 



•^^tiii>:iin;>- 




k^OIL^ 



i^y^^ 



5^®' 



:i^ 



u:^ 



<-^tlii:t:ilIl^^' 



T" 



i^@§^^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



9 



297 









V 

(J) 



He was married Dec. 24, 1840, to Cordelia Cain. 
She was born in Huron County, Nov. 30, 1825, and 
has been the mother of eleven chilren, five of whom 
are deceased. Their names are Elijah E., Edwin 
E., Daniel E., Mary R., Loretta F., Ada M., Willard, 
Alfonso and Alonzo (twins) William R. and Rosetta. 

The last four are deceased, together with an in- 
fant, twin child with Willard, the youngest living. 

From 1840 to 1865, Mr. Goodspeed worked at the 
trade of a builder, and also pursued farming to some 
extent. In the winter of 1863 he became a soldier 
for the Union, enlisting in Co. C, 38th Ohio Vol. 
Inf., his command being assigned to the Army of the 
Cumberland. He participated in the engagements 
at Buzzard's Roost and Resaca. At Kenesaw Moun- 
tain he was taken sick, and was sent home on a fur- 
lough on account of sickness. At its expiration he 
returned to tlie hospital, and a week later reported 
for duty. He was transferred to the Veteran Re- 
serve Corps, where he remained until he received 
honorable discharge. Soon after, he came to Michi- 
gan and pre-empted 1 60 acres of land in IngersoU 
Township. This has been his home since that time, 
and he has devoted himself vigorously to the work 
of improving and increasing the value of his home- 
stead. He has about 20 acres under cultivation, and 
in 1883 made an additional purchase of 57 acres of 
wild land. At the time of the settlement of the 
family everything was in the most primitive condi- 
tion. Supplies of all kinds were obtained from East 
Saginaw, at fabulous prices, and life was exempt from 
no variety of hardship and privation common to pio- 
neer settlers. 

In political connections Mr. Goodspeed is a Dem- 
ocrat. He organized the first school district in his 
,township, of which he was Director 1 1 years. He 
has held numerous local offices. 




thelbert J. Brewster, Postmaster at Mid- 
land, was born January 31, 1842, near 
Coburg in Ontario. His father, Johnson 
-^ Brewster, IS still living in Ontario, where he has 
passed his life in farming. The mother, Mar- 
garet (Birney) Brewster, is deceased. 
Mr. Brewster was bred to the business of farmer 
until the age of 19 }ears, when he engaged in clerk- 



ing. He moved from the Dominion to the State of 
New York when he was 21 years old, and subse- 
quently proceeded to Ohio. In 1864 he came to 
Michigan and bought 160 acres of land, on section 
27, in Hope Township, Midland County. It was all 
in heavy timber, and he devoted his time and ener- 
gies to placing it under improvements. In 1876 he 
had 75 acres under good cultivation, and the farm 
was supplied with creditable farm fixtures. In the 
fall of that year he was nominated for the office of 
County Treasurer on the Republican ticket, and 
prosecuted a successful campaign. On account of 
his official position he removed to town, and in 1878 
purchased his present residence. He was re-elected 
for three terms. After the expiration of his third 
term he entered into a partnership with John J. 
Ryan in the sale of hardware and agricultural im- 
plements. The relation still exists, and their busi- 
ness has been prosperous from the first. Their 
stock is valued at about $8,000, and includes all kinds 
of farming tools, wagons, buggies and carriages of all 
kinds ; also the different varieties of stationary and 
portable engines, boilers, etc. Mr. Brewster received 
his appointment as Postmaster February 4, 1884. 
He is a member of the Order of Masonry. 

His marriage to Mandana McAllister took place in 
May, 1865, at East Saginaw. She was borti in the 
Dominion of Canada, and is the daughter of Angel 
and Harriet Mc/Vllister. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster 
have three children, born at Midland — William J., 
Hettie and Anna. 

Mr. Brewster's portrait appears on the opposite 
page. 

-— -<^« 

oseph Barton, lumberman and farmer, sec- 
tion 4, Mt. Haley Township, was born 
Nov. 30, 1838, at Rochester, N. Y. Five 
years later his parents went to Genesee, Livings- 
^r ton Co., N. Y., where they resided four years. 
He was nine years old when they came to Alle- 
gany Co., N. Y. After a residence of seven years 
the family removed to Midland County, this State, 
where, in October, 1854, his father located 320 acres 
of unimproved land, in Homer Township. They died 
there respectively in 1862 and 1871. 

At the age of 22 years Mr. Barton became a lum- 
berman, and has been engaged in that branch of 




^ 



9 



i-f. 

z=i 

•■f\- 



^r# 



-^^^^ ^A4^|l !1 *^Ilt|v>^r:9 ^ijg^ 




Mf^/^^^^^ 



-r<^mm\\^> 



r^^ 



T 



'298 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^^ 4^^^(®Vl|^ 



business every winter save two since he came to the 
State. He was married Jan. 14, 1859, to Lucinda 
J., daughter of John A. and Lucinda (Cogswell) 

"^ Whitman. Her parents were born in Vermont and 
T New York. Mrs. Barton is the second white child 

(S; born in Midland County, and has lived all her life 
within its borders. At the time of her birth, the 
county consisted of one township and was unorgan- 
ized. Following is the record of 1 1 children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Barton : Joseph H., born April 7, i86i ; 
Julia L., Oct. 6, 1863; Ellen, Nov. 17, 1866; Cath- 
erine, July 2, 1868; Roseltha, Aug. 23, 1872 ; Maud 
A., Dec. II, 1876; Floyd, July 2, 1880. Clara, born 
Feb. 20, 187 I, died Sept. 4, 1873; Cora, born April 
18, 1S65, died Feb. 10, 1866; two babies died in 
infancy, one of whom was born Jan. 31, 1882, and 
died Feb. 25, following. 

After marriage, Mr. Barton managed his father-in- 
law's farm for a time. He afterwards bought 73 acres 
\ in Homer Township, where he lived one year and 
then sold out and followed the lumber business 

/^ solely until February, 1865, when he bought 40 acres 
of land on wliich he has since resided. In 1S75 he 
purchased 20 acres additional. It was all covered 
with primeval forest at the time of settlement, and 
all supplies were brought hither in boats on the Pine 
River. He has placed 58 acres under cultivation. 

obert A. Turner, farmer on section i8 

J, jT Jasper Township, was born in Racine Co., 

.jiv^ Wis , Sept. II, 1857, the son of Samuel and 

J'"'' Grace (McLaughlin) Turner. He remained 

with his father in his native county until 12 

years old, then came to Lapeer County, this State, 

for one year, and then, still with his parents, came 

to Jasper Township, this county. 

He lived at home, assisting his father on the farm, 
until 22 years old, when he was married, at St. Louis, 
March 29, 1874, to Miss Hattie Keifer, daughter of 
John Keifer. The latter was by occupation a farmer, 
and was killed in the late war. His widow now re- 
sides in Arcada Township, Gratiot County. Mrs. 
Turner was born near Portland, Mich., in .Ipril, 1852. 

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. T. settled on his 
farm of 50 acres on section 18, Jasper Township, of 
which he became owner on attaining his majority, 



>5 





by gift from his father. He has cleared 30 acres, 
and 20 acres are in cidtivation. He is politically a 
Democrat. He has held the offices of Township 
Clerk (three years), and School Inspector, and is now 
Township Treasurer. The four children now in- 
cluded in his family are named Lillie, Lena, Edith 
and Ethel. The two last named are twins. 



arshall H. Smith, the efficient and gen- 
tlemanly clerk at the Oscar House, Mid- 
land City, was born Dec. 19, 1841, in 
Warren Co., N. J., about five miles from the 
Delaware River, and is the son of James M. 
and Mary A. (Mericle) Smith. The former was 
born in New Jersey, in 1810, and died in 1880, in 
his native State. The latter was born in 181 2, and 
died in 1881. 

Mr. Smith was reared on a farm and sustained 
himself after reaching the age of eight years. The 
Southern Rebellion broke out before he was 2 i years 
of age, and just previous to reaching his majority he 
entered the service of the United States. He en- 
listed in August, 1862, in Co. B, 31st N. J. Vol. Inf. 
He was in the army a year and was personally en- 
gaged in the first battle of Fredericksburg, and the 
second fight at Chancellorsville, besides being in- 
volved in numberless skirmishes. He received an 
honorable discharge, and subsequently passed two 
years in the pursuit of agriculture in his native State. 
He then came to Ohio, and passed a year at Fre- 
mont, after which he came to Michigan. 

He was married Jan. 22, 1868, to Ella Thompson, 
of Lapeer, Mich. She was born in 1850, and is the 
daughter of Hawley and Betsey Thompson. Of this 
marriage two children have been born : Clifford H., 
who was born Oct. 31, 1869, and died Sept. 16, 1879 ; 
and Ray, who was born July 18, 1879. 

Mr. Smith came to Midland in 1868, and, in com- 
pany with his father-in-law, he opened a meat-market, 
which continued in operation one year. His ne.xt 
employment was in the shingle-mill of John Larkin, 
where he remained less than two years. For four 
years succeeding he operated as a salesman in the 
mercantile establishment of Mr. Larkin, since which 
he has acted in the capacity of hotel clerk. He has 
managed the duties of his position at the Oscar 



t 



^ 









V 



g^y-? 



^"V®))«^^ 



^Jf^^rr" 



-Kmm^^> 





■rr 



T<^Dn^IlU>>r 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



f 









(^ 



House three years, and has secured the confidence 
of the traveHng pubHc. The guests of the hotel are 
indebted to his considerate care to a great degree for 
their comfort and pleasure while availing themselves 
of its privileges. 



^'ji^ 1 5 illiam Windover, farmer, stockman and 
'} llEikl I'' lumberman, resident on section 14, Homer 
,, Township, was born Jan. 17, 185 i, in On- 
5> tario. Can. In 1872 he came with his 
father to Michigan and located in the village 
of Midland, where they remained three years, 
engaged in the lumber business. In 1875, they be- 
gan the purchase of their now extensive farm in 
Homer Township, buying 80 acres of fallow land, 
and not long afterward purchased 80 acres on section 
15. A short time subsequently they bought another 
80-acre tract on the same section, and in 1882 a 
fourth "80 " was purchased, on section 14. On the 
latter Mr. Windover has recently erected a good res- 
idence, at a cost of $1,000. In 1883 he bought 40 
acres more, which swelled the aggregate to 360 acres. 
Of this a goodly portion is well improved. The 
place has a large stock and grain barn, and is well 
stocked with a valuable herd of cattle. Mr. Wind- 
over is a Re[)ublican in politics, and is present Clerk 
of Homer Township. He has served two terms as 
School Treasurer. 

He was married Aug. 16, 1877, in Midland City, 
to Mattie Starks. She was born March 4, 1854, in 
the State of New York, and was brought to Michigan 
by her parents when six months old. Ella, born 
June 17, 1878; Sophronia, Oct. 16, 1880, and Wil- 
liam, Feb. 12, 1S83, are the children born of this 
marriage. 



I illiam H. Mills, farmer on section 27, Hope 
Township, was born in Ontario, Can.. 
29, 185 1, the son of Samuel and 
Sarah (Fillmore) Mills. The parents are of 
English descent, natives of Nova Scotia, 
came to Ontario in 1859, and to Midland 
County in 1861, where they yet reside. Their son 
William was ten years old when the family came to 
the Peninsular State, and has since made his home 




in Hope Township. He has now a farm of 70 acres, 
30 acres being now in cultivation. 

June II, 1877, is the date of his marriage to Miss 
Annie Ostrander, daughter of John C. and A.nna 
(Pratt) Ostrander. Mrs. Mills was born in St. Clair 
Co., Mich., March 8, 1859, and when between two 
and three years old she lost her mother, and she 
therefore grew up under the care of her father and a 
step-mother. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have been blessed 
with three children: Ernest W., born Nov. 19, 1878; 
Estella R., Nov. 10, 1880, and Clayton D. W., Aug. 
2, 1883. All were born in Hope Township. 

Mr. M. has been Township Clerk two terms, and 
is now serving his third term as Township Treasurer. 




-5 ^^^^^-i^S-V^^- 




^n 



^t|^|Sfrirain G. Thornton, farmer, section 2, Je- 
(5)^^^ ronie Township, was born in Monroe, Ash. 
^v^ tabula Co., Ohio, April 9, 1840, and is the son 
\ of Isaac and Rachel A. (Goodsell) Thornton. 
I The parents were natives of Massachusetts, 
and the father died in Erie Co., Pa. The mother is 
living in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. 

When Mr. Thornton was 1 2 years old, the family 
removed to Erie Co., Pa., and settled in Greene Town- 
ship, where his father bought 80 acres of land, hav- 
ing sold his farm of 80 acres in Ohio. On this Mr. 
Thornton remained until he was of age, when he 
engaged as a farm laborer by the month. 

Five days after he reached the period of his legal 
freedom, the assault on Fort Sumter sent a thrill of 
amazement around the world, and five months later, 
in September, 1861, he enlisted in Co. E, 29th Ohio 
Vol. Inf., and was mustered out during the last days 
of December, 1863; within the year he re-enlisted, or 
veteranized, and was in the service until June, 1865. 
His first battle was at Winchester, under Gen. Shields, 
followed by the engagements at Port Republic, Cedar 
Mountain, Bull Run (2d), South Mountain, Antietam, 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. 
The regiment was then assigned to the corps of Gen. 
Hooker, Maj. Gen. Sherman commanding. Mr. 
Thornton was in the battles of Lookout Mountain 
and Buzzard's Roost. In the latter engagement he 
was wounded below the right knee, and, in falling, 
broke three ribs. He was in the siege of Atlanta and 
started with Sherman for the sea, but three days later 



I 



^< 



•1 



-^^5«|1 





^-r<::ilD^ilIi^i>-r- 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



m,¥2'. 



-l»s«®^4® 



e 



-^s 



>0 






is? 




was captured and was held prisoner at Florence 
until near the close of the war. He was paroled about 
the time of the surrender of Gen. Johnston, and was 
kept in the woods about two weeks at Goldsboro, 
N. C. He went thence to Wilmington, N. C, whence 
he proceeded to Annapolis, and from there was sent 
home on a furlough. He was so much emaciated 
that on leaving Annapolis he was removed from the 
the boat on a stretcher. On reaching home he be- 
came ill from small-po.x, which he survived as he 
had done the privations of prison life. On recovery 
he returned to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he received 
his discharge. 

He bought a small farm in Ashtabula County, 
which he continued to manage five years, and in 
1874 he removed to Midland County, where he en- 
tered a homestead claim of So acres in the township 
of Edenville. On this he resided si.\ years and 
received his patent from the United States. He 
then removed to the place known as the "Ox-Bow 
Farm," which he worked one year, and at the expir- 
ation of that time he returned to his own property. 
He now owns 138 acres, with 30 acres improved. Mr. 
Thornton is a Republican and has served four terms 
as Township Treasurer. 

He was married about the last of December, 1865, 
to Tasa M., daughter of J. D. C. and Tasa (Brown) 
Hinkle. Her father was born Jan. 27, 1803, in 
Maryland, and died in February, 1 881, in Kentland, 
Newton Co., Ind. Her mother was born Oct. 5, 
1809, in Onondaga Co., N. Y., and died in December, 
1879. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton have become the 
parents of six children, recorded as follows : George 
A. was born May 14, 1866; Nettie M., Dec. 31, 
1867 ; Tasa A., June 27. 1870 (died when three years 
old); Clare B., Sept. 21, 1S74; Charles D., Oct. 12, 
1879; Hattie M., Nov. 6, 1882. 



;';.I'-f[n.f'ohn C. Howley, farmer, section 27, Mt. 
- Haley Township, was born Dec. 25, 1845^ 
■' in Leeds Co., Ont. His parents, Hugh and 
Catherine (Carey) Howley, were natives of Ire- 
land and are deceased. 

Mr. Howley left his native province when 
he was 16 years old and became a lumberman in the 
woods near Port Austin, Huron Co., Mich, After a 



time he returned to his former home, whence, ' 
not long after, he returned to Michigan and located 
at Saginaw, where he resumed his former occupa- 
tion of lumberman. 

His marriage to Lauretta T. Goodspeed occurred 
at Saginaw City, March 23, r877. She is the daugh- 
ter of E. C. and Cordelia (Cain) Goodspeed, natives 
respectively of New York and Oliio. The father is 
of New England parentage, the mother of Irish an- 
cestry. (See sketch of E. C. Goodspeed ) Mr. G. 
is 70 years old; his wife is 59 years of age. Their 
family record includes the names of eight sons and 
three daughters. Four of the former and one of the 
latter are deceased. Mrs. Howley is the seventh child 
in order of birth, and second daughter. She was born 
in Williams Co., Ohio, Jan 22, 1859, and came to 
Midland County when she was six years old. She 
was an eager and ambitious scholar, and at the age 
of r4 years became a teacher, in which avenue she 
labored until her marriage. Two children have been ( m 
born to her and her husband. Hugh, only living ^ ' 
child, was born July 4, T879. An infant died April /S 
14, 1878. = 

Mr. Howley owns 40 acres of land in Mt. Haley (V>' 
Township, and has improved 20 acres. In his politi- "^ 
cal tendencies he is a Democrat and has held the 
minor local offices in the township. 



orx> 



( 




ornelius Howard, farmer, section 31, Mid- 
^^ land Township, was born Feb. 16, 1842, 



®)^^t 



Ju 



<^ll!l^ 



in Dryden, Lapeer Co., Mich. He is the son 
of Nelson and Theresa (Beardsley) Howard. 
The former was born in 181 7, in Canada, and 
after his marriage removed to Lapeer Co., 
Mich., where he reared his family. 

Mr. Howard, of this sketch, grew to manhood on 
his father's farm and became a soldier during the 
first year of the war, enlisting in December, i86r, in 
the Michigan volunteer service. He was on active 
duty until in August, r862, when he was seized with<^ 
illness and transferred to the hospital at Keokuk, I 
Iowa. His father left his home to proceed thither, ^i? 
going to Detroit to take the cars. When near the @ 
city the team took fright and ran away. Mr. How- >* 
ard, senior, was thrown from the wagon, and received ^~ 
what was supposed to be a slight injury on his head. ^ 

A. 




* 



fi^ 



e* 



) 



^ 



('J 



^1? 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



rMl 



,<£r^ 



3°i " 



He boarded the cars as he had planned, and reached 
Keokuk, two days later, where he died, Sept. 1 1, three 
days after his arrival and five days after sustaining a 
seemingly insignificant injury. 

Mr. Howard was discharged two days after his 
father's death, and returned to Michigan. In the 
fall of 1864 he removed to the township of Midland. 
He at once interested himself in the erection of a 
shingle-mill, the first structure of the kind in Mid- 
land County, in which he was associated with his 
uncle, Theodore Howard. They made the first 
sawed shingles in this county. Mr. Howard is the 
proprietor of a farm of 40 acres, situated on section 
31. In political views and connection he is a Re- 
publican of decided type. He is at present School 
Director in his district. 

Mr. Howard was married May 19, 1865, to Miss 
Margaret Currie. She was born Dec. 25, 1848, in 
Canada, and is the daughter of John and Mary Cur- 
rie. (See sketch of Gilbert Currie.) Following is the 
record of the children now included in the family of 
Mr. and Mrs. Howard : Franklin G. was born March 
I, 1867; William H., March 14, 1869; Charles W., 
Sept. 3, 187 1 ; Cornelius, June 22, 1874; Archie, 
Sept. 22, 1878; Mabel, Jan. i, 1881; James, Jan. 19, 
1S84. 




acob Henry Wismer, farmer on section 

r 27, Hope Townsliip, was born in Yarmouth, 

Ont., May 9, 1853, the son of Abram and 



Isabella (Lincoln) Wismer, the former of Penn- 
"^r sylvania-German parentage, born Sept. 7, 181 2, 

and the mother born in Canada, of New Eng- 
land parentage, June 25, 1827. The father was by 
occupation a carpenter and pump manufacturer, and 
died in Elgin Co., Can., April 27, 1876. The mother 
died in Billings Township, Gladwin County, Nov. 18, 
1877. Jacob Henry's grandfather lived to the ven- 
erable age of 97. 

After the death of the father, the family decided to 
try Michigan as a home, and the three sons, with 
their sister Almira, settled in Gladwin County, where 
J. Heniy and Abram L. bought 160 acres in partner- 
ship, Sept. 15, 1876. Mrs. Wismer followed theni 
from Canada six months later, but died after six 
months' residence at her new home. In the spring 
of 1878, Mr. W. sold his interest in that farm, and 




purchased 40 acres elsewhere. He cleared this 
place and sold it, and in the meantime he rented 90 / 

acres where he now resides. After four years he 
bought the same. He has now 72 acres improved, a 
comfortable home and good farm buildings. 

April 14, 1 87 8, he was married to Miss Alice Mel- 
vina McCrary, daughter of William and Agnes (Mc- 
Williams) McCrary. (See sketch of Wm. McCrary.) 
She was born Feb. 23, 1862, in Lincoln (now Hope) 
Township, and died Feb. 10, 1S84, of spinal disease, 
leaving one son to her bereaved husband, — Freder- 
ick, born Aug. i, 1882, in Hope Township. 

In political opinion, Mr. W. is a Republican. 

►^HiB-<^ 

1 1 ''I i I '^ ilbur Lanphierd, farmer, section 24, in 
'IIs^-^Jl the Township of Jerome, was born Oct. 

He is a son 



jK^'p 18, 1843, in Bolton, Canada. 



V) 



^^Ik^' of Thomas W. and Eliza (Davis) Lanphierd. J 
^ His father was born Jan. 9, 1810, in New "jL 
^ Hampshire, and died Aug. 7, 1883. ^ 

He was a physician and spent his life in the^ 
practice of his profession. His mother was born *^ 
April 12, 1820, and resides with her son, O. S. Lan~=; 
phierd, in Lincoln Township, Midland County. They 
parents lived for a number of years in Canada, and 
went in 1845 ^o Jefferson Co., N. Y., and about a 
year later went to Livingston Co., Mich., where they 
remained about two years. At the end of that time 
they went to Highland, Oakland Co., Mich., and a 
year later settled at Rose's Corners in the same 
county. In 1S54 they removed to Genesee Co., 
Mich. 

The civil war broke out a few months before Mr. 
Lanphierd was 18 years old, and not long after that 
period arrived he became a soldier. He enlisted 
Dec. 9, 1861, in Co. I, loth Mich. Vol. Inf , and was 
mustered out Feb. 5, 1864. The regiment veteran- 
ized the following day and was again mustered out 
July 19, 1865, at Louisville, Ky., ai'ter the close of 
the war. The command was attached to the West-( 
em Army. The first battle in which his regiment | 
was engaged was at Farmington, near Corinth. The-fA. 
command remained in that position until about the (~ 
middle of August, and afterwards was stationed on^ 
the routes and bridges of the railroads running tO/ 
Nashville. The regiment was cut off from supplies 



<.^Dfl§IDf^ 



o. 



-^m 



I^^Jf 





I 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^^K<®VM 



^7s 



1 

V 

> 



(|n 




for two months and foraged for maintenance. It was 
under Gen. Nagley while stationed near Nashville, 
and was afterward transferred to the Army of the 
Cumberland and assigned to the First Brigade, Sec- 
ond Division, 14th Army Corps, under Gen. Thomas. 
Mr. Lanphierd was in the action at Stone River, 
Mission Ridge, and in the campaign under Sherman 
from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and thence to the sea. 
He was present at the surrender of Joe Johnston and 
marched to Washington, where he participated in 
the Grand Review. 

Leaving the army, he came to South Saginaw, where 
he worked in a mill for three years, and then he 
came to Lincoln Township, this county. Home- 
steading 80 acres of land, he remained there five 
years. Selecting this place, he lived the five years 
ensuing in Larkin Township. Since then he has re- 
sided on section 24, Jerome Township, except a year 
and a half in Oregon Township, Lapeer county. 

Mr. Lanphierd was married April 3, 1864, to Hes- 
ter, daughter of William Henry and Lavinia (Cogs- 
well) Bassett. Her father was born Dec. 28, 1802, 
and died Jan 24, t88o, in Oregon Township, Lapeer 
('o., Mich. The mother was born Feb. 18, 1S04, and 
died in June, iS6r, in Oregon. Mrs. Lanphierd was 
born May 1 1, 1 845, at Mt. Morris, Genesee Co., N. Y. 
Following is the record of the children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Lanphierd : Idella E., Dec. 27, 1864; Wm. R., 
born Aug. i., 1866, died five days later; Alibella, 
born Aug. 3, 186S, died Aug. 18 of the same year; 
Charles F., born June 9, 1870, died Sept. 15, 1870; 
Charles E., born Oct. 27, 1874; Andrew J., born 
Aug. r3, 1876. Mrs. Lanphierd is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 



ohn Suiter, general farmer on section ig, 

|||" Lee Township, was born in Oneida Co., 

^^ N. Y., Jan. 19, 1856. His parents, John 

and Caroline Suiter, were natives of Germany, 

|L and are now living in Oneida County, aged re- 

y spectively about 70 and 60 years. His father 

is a farmer. 

Young John set out in the world for himself at the 
age of ten years, at farm labor. Feb. 10, 1876, lie 
married Miss Susan E. Higbee, who was born in 
Lewis Co., N. Y., Dec. 11, 1854. By this marriage 




were two children: Burtie J., born Feb. 4, 1877, 
and died May i, 1880; and Claude, born Feb. 6, 
1 880. Two years after their marriage they emigrated 
from the Empire State to this county, and subse- 
quently purchased 80 acres on section 8, Lee Town- 
ship. His wife died May 3, 1883, and June 18, fol- 
lowing, he married Mary E. Wright, daughter of 
Charles H. and Sarah (Scott) Wright, natives of Can- 
ada and of Scotch descent. Mrs. S. was born in 
Leavenworth Co., Kan., July 4, 1868. When she 
was a year old her parents moved to Ontario, about 
two years aftenvard to Lapeer Co., Mich., and thence, 
in 1883, to this county. 

In March, 1884, Mr. Suiter located on section ig, 
Lee Township, where he owns 40 acres of land and 
has commenced clearing. 

In his political views Mr. S. is a Republican, and 
he lias held the office of Township Clerk ever since 
the organization of the township. He has also been 
honored with other official positions, and in May, 
t884, was appointed Postmaster of a new office on 
section tg. 



'F^^jili ohn McGregor, farmer and lumberman, 
'\\^£il-~ residing on section 17, Midland Township, 
V' is a son of William and Ann (Lochead) 
McGregor, natives of Scotland. They emi- 
]L grated to Canada at an early day in the years 
of their lives, and there married, lived, labored 
and died. John McGregor, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Glengary Co., Ont., Feb. i, i83t. 
He lived with his parents, assisting in the mainte- 
nance of the family and attending the common 
schools until he attained the age of 20 years. On 
arriving at that age he went forth upon the sea of 
time to battle against the trials of life alone. He 
had served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's 
trade previous to the age of 20, and followed that 
trade more or less until 186 1, when he came to East 
Saginaw, this State. He was variously occupied at 
the latter place until March, 1864, and then came to 
Midland City. On his arrival he purchased, in part- 
nership with Alex. Findlater, a hotel, which they con- 
ducted for about a year together, when Mr. F. pur- 
chased Mr. McGregor's interest. He then erected a 
hotel of his own, which was known as the " McGregor 
Hotel," and continued as " mine host" for about two 



^ 









ttX:-iiii:*:iiii;^ 






l^^f 





-2«^&: ^V4^DD>:iltlv>r" 



r^^ 



I 
t 






>^ 



s> 



(i) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^ t 



years, when, Jan. 28, 1867, it was destroyed by fire. 
He then engaged in lumbering, which business he 
has since followed. 

Mr. McGregor was married June 24, 185 i, to Miss 
Jane, daughter of James and Agnes (Miller) Sproul, 
natives of Scotland. She was born in Stormont Co., 
Ont., and is the mother of 13 children by Mr. McG. 
The living are Agnes, William, Mary J., John, Mar- 
garet A. and Elizabeth J. Those deceased are 
James S., James, Ellen, Catherine, Daniel, Robinson 
and Elizabeth. 

In 1875 Mr. McGregor moved to Gladwin County, 
this State, where he remained for about five years. 
While residing there he was County Treasurer for 
two terms, and was the first County Treasurer of the 
county. He was also Justice of the Peace and held 
minor offices. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. 
O. F., and religiously, is a member of the Episcopal 
Church. His wife belongs to the Presbyterian 
Church. Politically, Mr. McGregor is a believer in 
the doctrines of the Democratic party. 

^aniel L. Chamberlain, lumberman, Inger- 

,11, soil Township, resides with L. B. Cham- 

bfV-^ berlain. (See sketch of the latter.) He 

^JSi was born in Midland Co., Mich., July 11, 

C\ 1859; at the age of 16 he went into the 

\ woods, and ever since that time he has been 

engaged in lumbering, either in the woods or on the 

river. 

In his jx)litical views, Mr. Chamberlain is identi- 
fied with the Republican party. 



'^^^^■^^S'Wv^- 




J-Shristopher Kraniek, farmer on section 17, 
^ Jasper Township, was born in Germany, 



iRjJ May 15, 1850, the son of John and Jane 
JL (Rhodes) Kraniek, natives of Germany. The 
father is now a resident of Tuscola County, 
this State; the mother died in her native 
country. 

When seven years old, Christopher came with his 
father to America. They stopped for a number of 
years in New York State, and in i868 came to Mich- 



igan and settled in Fremont Tp., Tuscola County. 
Here our subject resided until his marriage. This 
event took place at Colaml)iaville, Lapeer Co., Mich., 
Oct. 16, 1S75, and the lady of his choice was Miss 
Sarah McLain, daughter of John and Sarah (Gal- 
linger) McLain. The parents are of Scotch descent, 
natives of Scotland and Ontario, respectively, and 
now reside in Lapeer County. Mrs. K. was born in 
the Province of Ontario, Feb. 18, 1857, came to La- 
peer County with her parents when 15 years old, and 
resided there till marriage. 

Four years after this event, Mr. K. and wife came 
to this county and settled on 40 acres on section 17, 
Jasper, 30 acres of which are now inifjroved. They 
have two children, — Florence, born Nov. i, 1878, 
and Ernest, born Jan. 22, 1880. In political views, 
Mr. K. is a Republican. 



illiam Phetteplace, deceased, was a farmer 
on section 14, IngersoU Township. His 
parents, Eddy W. and Annie (Wlieeler) 
l> Phetteplace, were natives of New England. 
He was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Jan. 
• 4, 181 8, and lived in his native county until 
al)0ut 2r years of age, when he taught school four 
years in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, that State, 
and one term in Carroll, same county. Next, he 
taught school three years in Nashville, Tenn., and 
then spent two years in Oakland Co., Mich., teaching 
one winter; then for nine months he followed various 
pursuits in Wyoming Co., N. Y.; then followed farm- 
ing for five years, with an older brother, at Rushford, 
Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., teaching two winter terms in 
that village; next, he followed farming and teaching 
for four years at Lafayette, McKean Co., Pa.; then 
farming again for nearly four years in Erie Co., Pa.; 
finally, in i860, he came to Saginaw County, and in 
March, 1864, homesteaded 80 acres of Government 
land on section 14, IngersoU Township, this county, 
where he settled and lived till his death, which oc- 
curred Nov. 18, 1883. He had about 25 acres under 
cultivation. He had previously disposed of 40 acres 
of his land, and at the time of his death owned but 
40 acres. 

He had been Supervisor of IngersoU Township 

seven years, Drain Commissioner, Justice of the 

I Peace three terms, one of the County Overseers of 










Ky 

«; 

() 







^^d^-^ 



.,;:;n_^ 



<^n!l^D!l<t>A 



a. 



.:^^^f^ 




^4^^ 



'304 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






the Poor two years, and was largely interested in all 
educational and other public interests of his com- 
munity. He was a staunch Republican in his views 
of national affairs. 

Mr. Phetteplace was married in Oakland Co., 
Mich., May i8, 1844, to Maria Wellmon, who was 
born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y,, May i, 1823. Mr. 
and Mrs. P. had seven children, named Eddy W., 
James W., Minerva, Phebe, Mary A., Sarah and 
Lizzie E. 




'■lesLsm^r^—hi 



;|i— «-g|sS)/ZW(r»v. 



■^: 






ohn S. Johnson, farmer on section 20, Lar- 
ff kin Township, is a son of James and Nancy 
A. (Sabins) Johnson, natives of New York, 
and was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Feb. 
27, 1836. His education was only such as was 
afforded by the common schools of his neigh- 
borhood, and he remained in his native State until 
1873, when he came to St. Clair Co., Mich. Two 
years later, he came to Midland County ; and in 
1877 he homesteaded 40 acres in Larkin Township, 
to which he has since added 40 acres, and has now 
12 acres improved. 

Feb. 26, 1863, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Miss Sarah 
J. Van Koughnett became Mrs. Johnson. Her par- 
ents, Josiah and Elizabeth (Frink) Van Koughnett, 
were natives of Canada. Mrs. Johnson was born in 
Ontario Aug. 20, 1837, and is the mother of six chil- 
dren, named Edwin D. (died when two years of age), 
Frankie E., Ada M., Melzer E., Mina A. and Cora O. 
Mr. J. is a supporter of the National party. He 
has held the offices of Justice of the Peace and School 
Assessor. He and wife are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 



-^ 



A A 



T-T" 






Cl- 




io^ dwin D. McCune, farmer on section 20, 
Jasper, is a son of Samuel and Mary 
(Dennis) McCune, natives of Kentucky, 



i&- and of Irish and Pennsylvania-German de- 

i scent. The former was an agriculturist, and 

died in Stark Co., Lid., March 2, 1883. The 



latter is still a resident of that county. 



JL 



The subject of this biographical sketch was born 
in Putnam Co., Lid., Aug. 29, 1848, and remained 
under the parental care until he arrived at the age of 
manhood. He then went West, and after a time 
visited Missouri. Li Livingston Co., Mo., Dec. 21, 
187 I, he married Miss Mary Wallace, who was born 
in the vicinity of Dubuque, Iowa, Nov. 8, 1849. 

Mr. and Mrs. McCune proceeded to Stark Co., 
Ind., thence after a year to Grand Haven, this State, 
and one year later they came to Coe Township, Isa- 
bella County. Here he carried on farming four years, 
when he purchased 40 acres in Jasper Township, this 
county. On this place he has since resided, and he 
now has 15 acres improved. 

Mrs. McCune is a member of the Baptist Church. 
Mr. McCune is politically a Republican, has been 
Township Clerk four years, being the present incum- 
bent, and has filled other local offices. He and wife 
have four children living — Katie, Charles, Gracie and 
Mary; and two deceased, — William and Daisy. 



ohn G. Bowers, lumberman and farmer, 
resident on the northwest quarter of section 
13, Homer Township, was born April 7, 
1853, in Rochester, N. Y. He is the son of 
John M. and Maria (Layton) Bowers, natives 
of Germany. His father died Oct. 14, 1879, 
in Bay Co., Mich., at the age of 70 years; and his 
mother resides in Unionville, Tuscola Co., Mich., 73 
years old. Their family included eight children — 
two sons and si.x daughters. Three of the latter are 
deceased. 

Mr. Bowers is the youngest child of his parents and 
lived at home in the beautiful city of the Genesee 
Valley until he was of age. He remained there until 
he was 25 years old and fitted for the vocation of 
butcher. He entered into partnership with the man 
with whom he served his apprenticeship, the relation 
continuing two years. In the fall of 1878 he came 
to Huron Co , Mich., where he purchased 200 acres 
of land and was a farmer there two years. In 1880 
he went to Bay County and engaged in lumbering 
some time, when he proceeded to Tuscola. Two 
years later he went to Saginaw, where he remained 
one year. In 1881 he came to the county of Mid- 
land and purchased 115 acres of land known as the 




^ 



c 



^ 






* 
I 



©) 



mmm^ 






w 





/:Za^^a^eA^, 




-"X^^Cc^ 




^ 




fi 



" *S-. 





c/kctyi.c^ S, ifUrj 



V 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^sfj^ 



^ 



> 



Rod. Russell farm," where he has since resided and 
operated as a farmer and lumberman. In the latter 
calling he has extensive relations, which may be es- 
timated from one season's work of putting in seven 
million feet of lumber. When he came to the town- 
ship of Homer, he owned a team of horses and $45 
in cash. In July, 1883, he paid for the farm whereon 
he resides, and has 45 acres improved^ He is the 
type of man whose efforts and ambition are fast 
developing Northern Michigan into one of the finest 
agricultural regions in this country. 

Mr. Bowers was married March 4, 187S, at Roch- 
ester, N. Y., to Julia A., daughter of Hezekiel and 
Jane (Stevens) Hull. Her parents were natives of 
Pennsylvania and of English descent. The daugh- 
ter was born June 15, 1856, and was left motherless 
when only si.'c months old. Her father removed 
when she was but 13 years old to Rochester, N. Y. 
Mr. Bowers is a Republican in political faith and has 
occupied the position of Treasurer two years. The 
family attend the Presbyterian Church. 





lamuel Sias, farmer and lumberman, resi- 
dent at Midland City, was born July 4, 
|[|5*'^^ 1822, in Belfast, Maine, and is the son of 
Samuel and Ann (McLean) Sias. His parents 
removed in the year of his birth to Dover, 
Maine, where his father engaged in the two- 
fold business of farming and lumbering. He became 
a lumberman at a very early age, going into the 
woods as a teamster when he was eight years old, 
and operated in that capacity in his fathers interests 
several winters. As he grew to maturity he occupied 
various positions, and at the age of 20 was in charge 
of a lumber camp. At the age of 24 years he was 
in business in his own behalf, and has pursued the 
calling of a lumberman every winter up to the pres- 
ent time. 

Mr. Sias was married at Dover, Maine, in the year 
1849, to Eliza Maddox. Samuel W. Sias was the 
only child born of this marriage. The mother 
died, and Mr. Sias was married April 10, 1858, to 
Mary E., daughter of Ahira and Hattie Sinclair, a 
native of Dover, Maine. Their ten children were 



born as follows : Herbert, Aug. g, 1859, and is a lum- 
berman in Midland County ; he married Mary E. 
Emery, and has one child, Arthur; Ella is the wife 
of Samuel McCravey, a lumberman of Midland ; 
Hattie was born April 18, 1863, and is a teacher in 
Midland City; Annie was born March 28, 1865; 
Lizzie, Feb. 5, 1867; Flora, Nov. 30, 1872; and 
Edith, Dec. 14, 1877. 

Mr. Sias was the proprietor of a fine farm of 100 
acres, three miles from Dover, which he sold in 1861, 
with the intention of seeking a wider field of opera- 
tion. He came to Michigan and engaged in lumber- 
ing in the interests of Merrill & Remmick, on the 
Cass River, in Tuscola County. In June, t86o, he 
went back to his home in Maine, returning in the 
winter ensuing to Michigan. This course he repeated 
until he transferred his family and entire interests to 
Midland County. He bought out the hotel of John 
Larkin, which he conducted two years, at the end of 
which time he sold out and bought 50 acres of land 
near I he village of Midland, where he passed the 
summers in farming and the winters in lumbering. 
Mr. Sias now owns 150 acres on the Chippewa 
River, which is one of the most desirable places in 
the section, having 100 acres under first-class culti- 
vation, with creditable buildings and farm fixtures of 
every necessary description. A part of his original 
purchase of land is now included in the village of 
Midland, which was platted by Mr. Sias and sold in 
lots. He owns also a farm of 163 acres at the 
mouth of Pine River in Homer Township. Of this, 
75 acres are under cultivation, and are devoted to 
the growth of supplies for his lumber camps. He 
owns also a tract of 1,000 acres of timber land, where 
he pursues his lumber interests during the winter 
seasons, and employs between 100 and 200 men. In 
the winter of 1883-4 he got out 18,000,000 feet. 
In 1864 he built a large establishment for milling 
purposes and the manufacture of lumber and shingles, 
also as a p'.aning-mill. He managed its various op- 
erations about si,x years, when it was destroyed by 
fire, involving a loss of $15,000. He is a stockholder 
in the Salt & Bromide Company of Midland, and 
owns a fine residence in that village. 

No more valuable and welcome portraits could be 
added to this volume than those of Mr. and Mrs. 
Sias, which may be found on other pages. The name 
of Sias is one of the most prominent and influential 







c^: 










^^^^^^ ^A^DH'SIDi^i^^ ^^^ 



4^^5f@>W 



» 



g))(^#*- 



310 






>^ 



V 

> 






t 

i 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-®5fe= 



i^^^((®^^ 



t 



in the county, and future generations, including their 
own sons and daughters, will prize in a peculiar man- 
ner the pictures of worthy and i)rominent representa- 
tives of the name. 



"OSiQSJt^^r 



</®|5W3Trav. 




fames F. Timmons, deceased, was a far- 
mer iind lumberman on section 24, Porter 
Township. He was born May 4, 1823, in 
the city of Montreal, Can His father, Noah 
^r Timmons, was a native of England and a 
' farmer by profession; he died when the son 
was but ten years of age. His mother, who was 
born in France, is yet living. 

The son remained with her until the age of 17 
years, when he entered upon his life of independ- 
ence.- He spent a year at Mt. Clemens, Mich., and 
then returned to Ontario, where he engaged in lum- 
bering until 1867, in which year he made a perma- 
nent settlement in the State of Michigan. He located 
with his family at East Saginaw, where they spent 
one year. In the year following, he came to Porter 
Township and bought 160 acres of land in a wholly 
wild condition. He was heavily engaged in lumber- 
ing from the time of his removal hither until his 
deatli. On the 17th day of October, 1876, he was 
engaged in hauling a load of goods from Merrill, and 
while driving the wneel of his wagon struck a log. 
The concussion threw him to the ground and he was 
fatally injured. He did not live to see his home 
again. His tragic death e.xcited universal and pro- 
found regret, his character as a man and his estimable 
traits having won the respect and esteem of the coni- 
mvinity of which he was a member. He was a man 
of more than ordinary intelligence and ambition, and 
left the record of a life of well-directed effort. 

He was a Republican in political principle. The 
improvements on the property have been increased, 
and the plate is under the management of Frank 
Timmons, the second son, who is a young man of 
correct habits and morals. He was born in Ontario, 
Can., March 25, 1857. 

Mrs. Hannah (Moo e) Timmons, widow of J. F. 
Timmons, was born at Eardley, Ont., and is the 
daughter of Eli and Elizabeth (McCormick) Moore. 
Her father was a native of Vermont and died at 



Eardley, in April, 1870; her n. other was born in 
Ireland and died July 4, 1864. The daughter was 
married in the city of Ottawa, Can., June 11, 1853. 
Besides the son named, her family includes a daugh- 
ter, Charlotte A., born April 1 1, 1854, who is the wife 
of Jolm Pacnod, a resident of Porter Township, and 
a native of Montreal, Can. Their marriage occurred 
June 2, 1870. Eight children have been born to 
them, as follows : John, Frank, Josephine H., Charles, 
Margaret, Flora and James. Elenora is deceased. 



tlli) #>i|fe.. avid M. Wilcox, farmer on section -j-j, 
jij i'gMg l Hope Township, was born \w the State of 
'^Wf''^ New York, Oct. 4. 1845, the son of Stephen 
'^*)r» A. and Amanda Melvina (Green) Wilcox. 
\ The father was of English and German descent, 
< and died of yellow fever wh'le en route to Mex- 
ico in the Mexican war, leaving two children, David, 
and a daughter now residing in Gladwin County. 
The mother, of English descent, re-married and is 
now living in Lincoln Township, this county. She 
has had seven children by her second marriage, five 
of whom are living. 

The subject of this biography was two years old 
when his father came to Macomb County, this State, 
and he was reared on the parental farm until the 
age of 15, wlien he left home to make his own way 
in life. For three years he worked in the lumber 
woods; and then, Feb. 28, 1865, under the last call 
of President Lincoln for volunteers, he enlisted in 
Co. B, 7th Mich. Vol. Cav., — Custer's old regiment. 
He was assigned to the Third Brigade, Third Divis- 
ion, Cavalry (^orps, and during his service fought in 
one battle, with the Indians near Fort Laramie. He 
was wounded in the calf of the leg by a minie ball 
in this engagement. 

After his discharge, Dec. 24, 1865, he worked for 
a time in the woods, then on a farm, and th^n for a 
year sold liquor at Midland City. Aug. 2, 1S68, he 
married Miss Amelia Eraser, daughter of Edwin and 
Elizabeth (Lewis) Eraser. She was born May 9, 
1850, in the Dominion of Canada, and is one of a 
family of ten, eight of whom are living. By her 
marriage to Mr. W., she is the mother of seven chil- 
dren, oiie of whom is deceased. The record is as 
follows: Ora M., born July 23, 1869; Myrtie E., 



Vb 



(' 



c>: 






\ 



«;..'-• 









^ 



<.;i]!]^:tlt];^>z^^ ^^^ 




m 



§-r^^^^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^ 



'^i 



V 



(q^ 



% 



3n 




Jan 26, 1871, and died May 30, 1873; Addie A., 
Nov. 25, 1872; Alfleda A., Sept. 24, 1874; Claudia 
R., Aug. 21, 1876; Fannie A., March 31, 1878; and 
Merrick D., Feb. 16, 1880, all in Hope Township. 

Mr. W. came from Ray Tp., Macomb County, 
May 20, i860. He now owns 40 acres of land, of 
which 20 are improved. He has a good residence, 
and also keeps a general merchandise store, being 
the only merchant in the township of Hope. He has 
been Deputy Sheriff 13 years, Highway Commis- 
sioner one term, Justice of the Peace three years (is 
present incumbent), and is now School Director and 
Postmaster. 



E erdinand McCrary, farmer on section 22, 
Hope Township, is a son of William and 
Agnes McCrary (see sketch), and was 
born Jan. 20, i860, in Jerome (now Edenville) 
Township, this county. He was married March 
6, 1884, to Rosa B. Evans, daughter of J. R. 
Evans, of Midland City. She was born Oct. 7, 1864, 
and is the oldest of ten children. Her father was 
born Feb. 20, 1841, in Green, Trumbull Co., Ohio, 
and her mother April 9, 1842, in Coldbrook, Ashta- 
bula Co., Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McCrary are just 
starting out on their voyage of life, and their natural 
good traits and the good will of their many friends 
insure them success. 



Ik imon Gleckler, farmer on section 26, Hope 
Township, was born Oct. 10, 1845, in '^Id.- 
||5;'^ honing Co., Ohio, the son of Henry and 
Catherine (Beauman) Gleckler. The father 
was a native of Germany, came to this country 
when eight years old, and died in Columbiana 
Co., Ohio, Aug. 7, 1883, at the age of 73. The 
mother, also a native of Germany, is living witli a 
son and daughter in Columbiana Co., Ohio. The 
family of 14 included nine sons and five daughters, 
all of whom are living, and have arrived at years of 
maturity. All are married but two. 

The subject of this biographical narrative was 
reared on a farm, but has worked in saw-mills much 
of the time since he became of age, at which time he 




left home. He worked one year in Mahoning Co., 
Ohio, and a year in Genesee Co., Mich., and was 
th.en married. He spent two years more in a mill in 
the latter county, and neaily an equal period in the 
former. The five years ensuing he was employed in 
a mill at Coleman, this county, after which he settled 
on 40 acres of wild land and where is his present 
home. He has now eight acres improved. 

His marriage occurred Oct. 3, 1867, in Flint, Mich , 
to Miss Margaret Ann Denton, daughter of Daniel 
and Esther A. (Elvis) Denton. Mr. D. died in 
Catiada in 1867, and Mrs. D. Dec. 7, 187 i. Mrs. G. 
was born in Rawdon Township, Hastings Co., Can., 
April 9, 1845, and is one of a family of three sons 
and three daughters, all living. Mr. and Mrs. G. 
have two children, born in Genesee Co., this State : 
Eliza Kate, July 18, 1868 ; and Esther, Oct. 27, i86g. 

Mr. G. is in political views a Greenbacker. He 
has been Superintendent of Schools three terms, and 
is now serving his fourth term as Supervisor. He is 
a member of the Lutheran Church. 



pf^lj-j^ohn Loyer, farmer, section 10, Ingersoll 

m 



^ 



(^1 




^^^fl«®- 



■^mm 



J^ Township, is a son of George and Eva 

y,^''' (McLaughlin) Loyer, natives of Pennsylva- 
nia. His mother died in that State Sept. 30, 
1845, when he was an infant; and his father 

" came to Midland County in the fall of 1878, 
and died in Ingersoll Township, April 20, 1880. 

Mr. Loyer was born in Erie Co., Pa., Sept. 26, 
1845. In the spring of 1856 he came with his father 
to Shiawassee Co., Mich., lived there four years, then 
some time in Livingston County, one year again in 
Shiawassee County, then in Livingston County again 
until January, 1863, when he enlisted in the Fifth 
Mich. Inf and served till the close of the war, par- 
ticipating in the battles of the Wilderness, siege of 
Petersburg, etc. May 12, 1864, at the battle of 
Spottsylvania, he was wounded in the right shoulder, 
in consequence of which he was in the hospital 
about nine months. Being then partially able for 
duty, he made a special request to be returned to his 
regiment, although really in too feeble a condition to 
perform the duties that would devolve upon him. 

After his discharge he returned to Livingston Co., 
Mich., where he remained one year, then spent one 



Si/ 



'?■ 




^m^ 



-:^^K — ^v<-:ii n ^: mi>-T^ — ^f»^ 



-i^^^^vl 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^ 



^ 



) 



o. 



>:> 



season in Shiawassee again, then engaged in farming, 
and laboring in the woods winters, in Saginaw 
County, until he first came to Midland County, in 
1869, and homesteaded 40 acres of land, in Inger- 
soll Township, where he lived six years. He was 
then two years in Saginaw County again, nearly one 
year in Shiawassee County, three years in Saginaw 
County, and in the spring of 1880 he again came to 
Midland County. By this time he had disposed of 
the 40 acres he had homesteaded in 1869, and during 
the year 1880 he purchased 80 acres of land, some- 
what improved, where he now resides. He now has 
about 27 acres under cultivation. 

Mr. Loyer has been School Moderator of his dis- 
trict, and Path-master. In his political views he is a 
Republican. 

He was married in Shiawassee County, Nov. 4, 
1866, to Sarah M., daughter of John and Hannah 
(Fuller) Anible, natives of New York State. She 
was born in Genesee Co., Mich., July 27, 1850. 
They have three children, viz.: George P., Gertie A. 
and Jennie. 



^^■---■> >J' 

jj oswell B. Gotham, farmer on section 17, 
|i^^(: Larkin Township, is a son of Solomon and 
'l^'^C*'" Elizabeth (King) Gotham, natives respect- 
' *W '^^'y °f ^^^ Hampshire and New York; and 
he was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., May 8, 
1837. He received a rudimentary English 
education, but was under the care of his parents 
only until 11 years old. Losing his father at that 
age, he was une.xpectedly obliged to make his own 
way in life. Until 16 years old he worked as cook 
on a scow on the St. Laurence River. 

Next he passed three years in Canada, learning 
the cooper's trade ; and then for three years he fol- 
lowed the lakes as a common sailor. In August, 
1862, he enlisted in the loth New York Heavy 
Artillery, in which organization he served nearly 
three years. April 2, 1865, he was taken prisoner, 
but on the 9th of the same month (the day of Lee's 
surrender) he was released. After his discharge 
from the army he returned to his home in New York 
State, and there remained until October, 1868. On 
that date he came to this county, and liomesteaded 
80 acres in Lincoln Township, which he afterwards 




sold and bought 40 acres in Larkin Township, where 
he now lives, with 22 acres under cultivation. 

Oct. 29, 1859, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., lie took as 
the sharer of his name and fortune Miss Julia Far- 
row, a native of that State. Of 14 children, 11 sur- 
vive, named Roswell H., Henry E., Lewis A., Caro- 
line B., Mary E., Byron T., Solomon N., Archibald 
F., David K., Julia E. and Vlaggie. The three de- 
ceased were named Bertha M., Violet A. and Leslie D. 

Mr. G. is in political faith aNational, and has held 
the offices of Township Clerk, Justice of the Peace 
and School Director. 



j^ eorge W. Frost, farmer and lumberman^ 
_.. section x. Mt. Haley Township, was born 

#■ May 16, 1818, in Oswego Co., N. Y. His 
parents, Benjamin and Polly (Sprague) Frost, 
were natives of New England. His father 

' died Dec. 25, 1830, in Oswego Co., N. Y., and 
his mother in April, 1867, in McLean Co., Pa. 

Mr. Frost was about ten years of age when his 
father died, and upon him devolved the support of 
his mother, which duty he discharged to the exclu- 
sion of every other, resigning all chances for an 
education. In 1840 he was married to Abbie Loops, 
a native of Pennsylvania. They settled in McLean 
Co., Pa., and Mr. Frost there engaged in agriculture 
until 1866, when he came to Midland County. He 
had been ambitious to interest himself in lumbering, 
and to that end had previously purchased a pine- 
lumber tract of 160 acres on Pine River. He set- 
tled on section 3 of Mt. Haley Township, where he 
bought 80 acres of unimproved hard-timber land. 
He has been extensively engaged as a job lumberman, 
and during winter seasons has put in two million feet 
of logs on an average. He has also trafficked in 
real estate to some extent, and his home place now 
includes 240 acres, with 120 acres under cultivation. 
He has accomplished the improvements on his farm 
by the aid of his sons. He has two good barns and 
three dwellings on his estate. 

Mr. Frost was a second time married. May 14, 
1865, at Adrian, Mich., to Mrs. Roseltha (Murphy) 
Marsh. She is the daughter of Palmer and Soloma 
(Nichols) Marsh, natives respectively of Connecticut 
and Massachusetts. The latter died in Pennsylva- 



^ 






c^: 






r^ 





^ 



(^ 



1 

f 



i))^€^ 



':J^K 6V<4t] n *^: n ll^-t>V^e5 :Ji^^ 



-*4?^ 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



313 



nia, Jan. 25, 1845. The father resides in tliis town- 
ship. Mrs. Frost was born June 10, 1841, in Che- 
nango Co , N. Y., and when she was three years old 
her parents removed to McLean Co., Pa., where she 
was married to Jolin Marsh. Ellen, only issue of 
her first marriage, is deceased. Two children have 
been born of her second marriage : Freddica, Aug. 6, 
1876: and Millie, July 26, 1867 (died March 3c, 
1871). 

Mr. Frost is a Democrat in political connection, 
and has held the offices of Township Tre.;surer and 
Road Commissioner several years. 



•^jejeE/©^®^— ^^^^ 



.^^^i^JSVV' 



X-H^.f^ 




|:* rson Cady, farmer on section 30, Larkin 
Township, is a son of Alpheus and Patty 
A. (Chambers) Cady, natives of the State of 
New York. The parents emigrated to this 
State and settled in Lapeer County, where 
they died, she in 1844, and he Jan. i, 1864. 
The subject of this outline was born in Erie Co., 
N. Y., Aug. 30, 1835, and was but four years old 
when his porents removed to this State. He lived at 
home until he attained his majority, and on beginning 
the career of life for himself went first to Grand 
Rapids, where he found employment in a livevy and 
sale stable for four years. He then went to Illinois- 
and rented a farm for two years, at the expiration of 
which time he returned to Kent County, this State, 
where he rented a farm for four years. Thence he 
went back to Lapeer County, his old home, and 
there ran a stage line 18 months from Lapeer to 
Pontiac. Selling this, he removed to Bellevue, Ohio, 
and opened a livery stable, where he was in business 
two years. I)is|)osmg of this, he was ne.vt for a year 
employed in Kentucky by a land and mining com- 
pany. 

He then spent six months more in Lapeer County, 
and in May, 1867, he came to Midland City, where 
he was for 12 years in the employ of John Larkin. 
In 1879 he bought 120 acres in Larkin Township, 
where he has since lived, having now about 25 acres 
im[)roved. 

June 10, t86o, in Ottawa Co, 111., he formed a 
life partnership with Miss Melissa Moses, a native 
of New York State. Their children have been three 



in number — Jennie (died when 21 months old), Jessie 
and one which died in early infancy. 

In political sentiment, Mr. Cady is identified with 
the Republican party. He has held the offices of 
School Inspector and Township Treasurer. 



I 



^5!H^<^ 




,rs. Hannah S. Murray, section 36, In- 

gersoll Township, is the fourth daughter 

. ^ ' of William and Hannah (Ryan) Spellacy, 

» ^ \ who were natives of Ireland and passed 
their entire lives there. They had four daugh- 
ters and one son. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Ireland, 
March 17, 1835 ; when 14 years of age she came to 
America and lived one year in Boston, Mass.; then 
lived about a year in Cleveland, Ohio, about two 
years in .Somerset, Ohio, and finally, in rSsS, she 
came to Midland County, Ingersoll Township, where 
she has since resided. 

She was married in Somerset, O., Dec. 25, 1855, to 
Edward Murray, a native of Ireland. She adopted 
a half orphan a year and a half old, namely, Sarah 
E., daughter of John and Sarah (McCuUy) Jelley, 
whose mother iiad died when she was only 15 
months old. Thereupon the former took the name 
of Murray. She was married July 4, 1877, to Ed- 
ward Davis, a native of Saginaw Co., Mich. She has 
two children, — Orrie E. and Wilbur R. 

Mrs. Murray has a farm of 42 acres, on section 36, 
which she superintends and has in a state of good 
cultivation. 



^^ 



-i- 



S3 







gjlfc^fc ames Hanley, farmer on section 29, Jasper 

';!'^^|" Township, was born in Ireland June* 4, 

sS'''"'^ 1837, and is the son of Hugh and Mar- 

X<L garet (McLain) Hanley, natives also of the 

'jL Emerald Isle. Tiie father followed farming, 

i| emigrated to America, and just after arriving at 

Hamilton, Ont., died in r838, leaving James a half 

orphan when but one year old. The mother died in 

Port Huron, Mich., in May, 1867. 

Tlieir family number'ed ten, — eight sons and two 
daughters ; and three of the former and both the 
latter are yet living. Of the sitrvivors James is the 




.^^ 



iJSTov^ 



^■i 



:^i«^- 



■:2=€^^^ — erv<>p n^: n D>>r 



TT 



-:2if^^^ 



314 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






iv^ 



<h 



, ) 



.^ 



V 



"$> 



^ 

^ 



youngest. He lived with his mother until 24 years 
old, and March 14, 1861, in Huron Co., Ont., he 
was married to Miss Margaret Sharp, daughter of 
Wilham and Elizabeth (Hunter) Sharp, natives of 
Scotland and Ontario, and of Scotch and Irish- 
derman extraction respectively. They are now living 
in Ontario, both in good health; the father aged 87, 
the mother 78. Mrs. Hanley was born in Prescott, 
Ont., March 17, 1843, ''*"'^ '^ the sixth child and 
second daughter in a family of 13 children, it of 
whom yet survive. 

For six years after marriage, Mr. Hanley was en- 
gaged in agriculture in Huron Co., Ont., removing 
thence to Oakland County, this State. After a stay 
there of a year and a half, he removed to Lapeer 
County, and jiurchased 40 acres of wild, heavily 
timbered land. He lived on this place 14 years, 
brought it to the best possible farming condition, 
erected good buildings ar.d started an orchard. He 
sold the place for nearly eight times what it cost 
him, and in April, 1881, came to Midland County 
and purchased 80 acres, mostly timbered, where he 
has since resided. He has now 20 acres cleaved and 
16 in cultivation. 

Mr. H. is in political sentiment a Republican. 
He and wife have been the jiarents of ten children, 
of whom William, Mary A., .'Mwilda J. and John E. 
are living; and James (first), James (second), Mar- 
garet, George, Ettie and two infants are deceased. 



hineas F. Pierce, deceased, was a farmer 
on section 35, Ingersoll Township, and was 
^■1^ the son of Phineas and Mary Pierce. He 
was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1842; 
fuv. when quite small he came to Lapeer Co., 
^ Mich., and to Midland County in 1S57, buy- 
ing 40 acres of land in Ingersoll Township. He after- 
wards bought 160 acres and dis^x)sed of the fust 
purchase. At the time of his death he occupied 136 
acres, owned by his wife. With the exception of 
about six months spent in Nebraska, he lived in this 
county till his death. 

He was married at Saginaw, Feb. 10, 1862,10 Miss 
Jane D., daughter of Henry and Melinda Mills, born 
in Lapeer Co., Mich., Dec. 6, 1846, and they have 
had seven children, namely: Rena J., born July 24, 




1866; Eugene F., April 7, i868; May E., Jan. 24, 
1870; Carrie E., Aug. 29, 1871, and died Aug. 12, 
1880; John W., born Dec. 5, 1873; George H., Aug. 
S, 1878; and Harriet B., April 28, 1880. All were 
bom in this county except May E., who was born in 
Nebraska. 

Mr. Pierce enlisted for the cause of the Union, in 
the fall of 1861, in the Tenth Mich. Inf., and served 
four years. He was confined several weeks in the 
hospital during his enlistment. 

During his life he held the office of Deputy ShcrifT 
of Midland County, Highway Commissioner, etc. 



-+i^^ 



^=^>- 




l^harles 




S. Sanford, faruier, section 27, 
elf^^^ Jerome Township, was born April 27, 



^p iSi6, in Madison Co., N. Y., and is the son 
t(f of Peleg P. and Annie (Skiff) Sanford. His 

l^ mother was born in Massachusetts, and his 
father in the State of New York. They died 
in Paine.sville, Ohio. 

Mr. Sanford was brought up by his grandi)arents 
from earliest childhood, and he remained witii tiicm 
until the death of his grandmother, which occurred 
when he was 16 years old. His mother was living in 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and at that age he went out 
in the vicinity and found employment as a farm 
4al)orer and also was engaged in shoemaking. He 
went thence to Ashtabula County, where he was em- 
ployed at his trade about ten years. In 1864 he 
purchased 1,000 acres of pine land in Midland 
County, and 213 acres where Sanford is located. He 
made the purchase of Benj. Dean, and the later tract 
was then known as the "Salt-Spring Reserve." It is 
the location of the first salt well in the State, and 
this is still flowing. Dr. Douglass Houghton, then 
State Surveyor and Geologist, who was afterward 
drowned in Lake Superior, superintended the sinking 
of the shaft. Mr. Sanford located here in May, 1864 
and has since been resident. The place was named 
in honor of him as original owner of its site. 

Mr. Sanford is a Republican in political sentiment, 
and has officiated in the various local offices. He 
has been Township Clerk four terms. Justice of the 
Peace 15 years, has held the offices of the school 
district, and is at present the Moderator. He is the 
owner of a hay farm of So acres in Jerome Township. 



(' 
^ 



! 



1=1 






t 



1 « I 1 



^»€»«- 



.^::;i. 






«-s»- 



"rmr 



<^W£m>T 



ry 



iii^'ji^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



3'5 



'1^ 



A 

1 



V 




The place produces immense quantities of grass, of a 
coarse quality. 

Mr. Sanford was married April 26, 1840, to Eliza 
B., daiii^hter of Amos and Catiierine (Bayham) But- 
ton. Her [)arents were natives of the State of New 
York and died in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. She was born 
Oct. 22, 1820. Following are the names of the seven 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sanford: Sarepta P., 
.\nsan A., William, Adella, Ida, George and Chailes. 

ohn Windover, farmer and lumberman, 
^|fe- resident on section 15, Homer 'I'ownship, 
^ ^ was born June 25, 1830, in Ontario, Can. 
His parents, William and Mary (Peterson) 
Windover, were born respectively in the State 
of New York and Province of Ontario. They 
belonged to the agricultural chiss, and were among 
the earlier settlers of Ontario. They became possess- 
ors of 200 acres of land in that province under the 
special act of the English Parliament known as the 
Ueloilus Grant, which gave 200 acres of land to 
every settler of that year and the same amount to 
every child born within the year of the passage of 
the act. The parents died in the Dominion, each 
aged about 80 years. 

Mr. Windover obtained a fair common-school edu- 
cation, and when he was i8 years old he was a com- 
petent farmer, having been thoroughly instructed in 
the duties of that pursuit under the guidance of his 
father. At the age named he became his own man, 
and left home to take charge of his own fortunes. 
He first engaged as a farm laborer, and later became 
interested in lumbering. He became possessor by 
jnirchase of 50 acres of land, on which he labored 
some years, but owing to a flaw in the title he was 
dispossessed of his estate. He then spent three 
years on a rented farm. In June, 1873, he came to 
Midland County, purchased property and remained 
three years. At the end of that time he purchased 
160 acres of land, on which he has since resided and 
operated, and to which he has added by later pur- 
chase. His place is well improved and greatly in- 
creased in value by the skill and judgment exercised 
in its management. Mr. Windover is a Republican 
in pcjlitical principles. He is justly regarded as one 
of the solid citizens of Homer 'I'ownship, and holds 




to a large degree the respect and esteem of the com- 
munity of which he is a member. 

Mr. Windover was married in December, 1848, in 
Richmond Township, Ontario, to Elizabeth Warner, 
a native of that province, born Dec. 25, 1828. She 
is the third of 13 children. Her father died in On- 
tario, in 1875 '> 'is"" mother still resides there, aged 74 
years. To Mr. and Mrs. Windover have been born 
ten children, two of whom are deceased. They were 
born in the following order: Sarah, June 26, 1849; 
William, Jan. 17, 185 i; Mary, Nov. 12, 1852; .\nna, 
June 12, 1854; Wesley and Whitley (twins), July 4, 
1864: Melissa, Nov. 17, 1865; Minnie, April 18, 
1867 ; Johnny and .Sophronia. The two last named 
are not living. The parents are members of the 
Methodist E|)iscopal Church. 



illiam H. Tice, farmer, section 14, Homei 
Township, was born in Sullivan Co., N. 
m\vv-j^>-j Y., Aug. 20, 1840. He was brought up 
jfe5.> to the peiiod of his legal freedom by his 
■A-iV parents, and passed the years of his minor- 
ity in obtaining an education and working on 
the home farm. The tide of civil war swept over the 
land a few months prior to his 21st birthday, and Oct. 
7, 1861, he became a soldier for the l>nion. He 
enlisted in Co. I, 56th N. Y. Vol. Inf His com- 
mand was attaclied to the Army of the Potomac, 
and he was in action through 12 engagements, be- 
sides numerous skirmishes. He was discharged for 
re -enlistment six months before the expiration of his 
time, and he again enrolled in the same regiment, 
Feb. 19, 1864, as a veteran. He received his final 
and honorable discharge in Octo'.)er, 1864. 

He returned home and took charge of his father's 
farm and business, in whi:h he was occupied urrtil 
1869. He spent several- years following in his own 
agricultural interests, and in 1872 came to Michigan 
and purchased 40 acres, on which he has since re- 
sided. He has improved ten acres of his farm, and 
erected a fine stock and grain barn. He is a zealous 
Republican in political connections, and has been 
Township Treasurer five years, in which capacity he 
is still acting. He was recently elected Justice of 
the Peace, and has served several years as School 
Inspector, being Chairman of the School Board. Mr. 




V© 



9 

A 






0) 



'^^^s'-^ 



-^^^^ %K>I1 !I '^M^> 



\^Jj 




MIDLAND COUNTY. 




Tice has been a member of the Methodist Eiiiscopal 
Church since he was ten years of age, and has offici- 
ated several years as Steward of the society to which 
he and his wife belong. 

He was married Feb. 25, 1869, in Ulster Co., N. 
V Y-. to Artie, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Doolittle) 
Cudney. The parents were natives of the State of 
New York, of EnL;lish descent. They died in Sulli- 
van Co., N. Y. Mrs. Tice was born in that county, 
April 24, 1845, and resided with her father until her 
marriage, the mother having died when the daughter 
was tpiite young. One of the five children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Tice is deceased. Following is their record: 
Orah E. was born April 24, 1870; Lulu C, Marcli 
10, 1S72; Jennie E., May 27, 1873; Clara M., July 
5, 1S76. An unnamed infant was born Feb. 4, 1883, 
and died Feb. 26, following. 



#^-- 




on. James W. Cochrane, ex-Senator from 

Midland County, speculator in real estate, 

'f^' etc., at Midland, is a son of James W. and 

Permelia (McLaughlin) Cochrane, and was 

born in Attica, Wyoming Co., N. Y., June i, 

1838. His father was one of the first settlers 

in the "Holland Purchase." 

Attending school until 12, he then taught a winter 
term of school in his native county, receiving as com- 
pensation the attractive salary of $13 per month. 
Then for three years he studied in the summers at 
the Rock River University at Mt. Morris, 111., teach- 
ing school winters. 

Returning then to Warsaw, in his native county, 
in New York, he entered the law office of Comstock 
& Healy. After two years of study with that firm, 
he was in 1S62 admitted to the Bar in Buffalo, N. Y. 
He practiced one year at Warsaw, and then came to 
Freeland, Saginaw Co., this State, and followed lum- 
bering for an equal period of time. In 1864 he 
opened a law office at Midland, but after three years' 
practice he again engaged in lumbering, which occu- 
pied his time until 1880. For two years of this 
period he was associated with Messrs. Brooks & 
Adams, of Detroit, in the ownership of extensive 
tracts of land. In 1870, in company with John 
Haines, he built the first mill on the line of the Flint 
& Pere Marquette Railroad west of Midland. This 



was near Averill, and he sold out one year later. 
Besides these enteritises, he has made several invest- 
ments on his private account. 

About a mile from the city of Midland is situated 
his nice farm of about 180 acres, 120 improved. He 
resided there six years, and in i88t removed to Mid- 
land, where he is now dealing in real estate and 
practicing law. 

He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and l)e- 
longs to the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. and R. A. 
Politically, he is a zealous Republican. In the fall 
of 1878 he was nominated for State Senator, and was 
elected, his opponents in the canvass being James K. 
Wright, Democrat, and Henry Smalley, National. 
He represented the 28th Senatorial District with 
credit for two years, and was acknowledged to be one 
of the most able members of the upper branch of 
Michigan's Legislature. He was Chairman of the 
Committee on Public Lands, and a member of the 
Committees on State Prison, Insurance, and Towns 
and Counties ; and was appointed from the north 
part of the State on the Special Joint Committee for 
the Revision of the Tax Laws. The work of this 
committee was the most important that was brought 
before that session. He has taken an active part in 
politics in Midland County, and in 1876 stumped 
the northern part of the State for Hayes and 
Wheeler. He has been Chairman of the Republican 
County Committee, and has held several important 
local offices, among them Supervisor and Justice of 
the Peace. 

Aug. 3, 1869, in Wethersfield Springs, Wyoming 
Co., N. Y , he was joined in wedlock with Miss 
Helen E. Webster, daughter of Abel and Caroline 
(Doolittle) Webster. Mrs. Cochrane was born in 
Wethersfield Springs, April 5, 1844, and was reared 
in Warsaw, in her native county. She received a 
normal training, in addition to the usual common- 
school education, and graduated Jan. 30, 1862. She 
was the youngest member of her class, and was one 
of five selected to read at the graduation exercises. 
See then became a preceptress in the Genesee and 
Wyoming Seminary at Alexander, Genesee Co., N. 
Y., where she taught for one school year. The 
ensuing two years she taught mathematics, in the 
Cary Collegiate Seminary at Oakfield, N. Y. In 1864 
and 1865, slie was Vice Principal of Cottage Hill 
Seminary at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and then for four 






C 



(■ 



C< 






l-\®))^^fl 



ft®»- 



-^^^ — ^^-^^mi^iiiif^A^ 



-^^^ 





zJ^^ — crvC^nn^iiuy^v 



:— ~ ^^((®V(M 



MID LAND COUMTY 



^ 






{■> 



(4 



years she was Vice-Principal and teacher of higher 
mathematics in the Mary Institute at Carhsle, Pa. 
She resigned her position in this institution to be- 
come the bride of Mr. Cochrane, ("harles E. is the 
only son by this marriage, and was born at Midland, 
March 20, 1875. 




homas J. Carpenter, dealer in real estate 

i at Midland, was born July 15, 1807, in 

^ Wheatland (then) Genesee Co., N. Y. He 



is the son of Powell and Lucy (Kellam) Car- 
penter, and was reared as a farmer's son, obtain- 
ing his education in the common schools. 
In 1 83 1 he came to the Peninsular State. He 
bought 320 acres of "oak openings" in Orion Town- 
ship, Oakland County, and cleared 200 acres, forming 
a first-class farm. In 1S55 he bought 400 acres of 
land in the western part of Midland County, lying 
on the Chipjiewa river, to which he added by subse- 
quent purchase until his aggregated real estate 
amounted to 3,000 acres, of which he still retains 
about 2,500 acres. In 1S59 he bought a half interest 
in a saw-mill in the eastern part of the village of 
Midland, in company with A. W. Thompson. A 
shingle mill was added to this, and six years later 
the entire establishment was burned, involving a loss 
to Mr. Carpenter of $2,000. In 1859 he bought 160 
acres of land, now included in the site of Midland 
and constituting the northeastern portion of the 
village. It was platted in i860, and includes 120 
acres in extent. In i860 Mr. Carpenter disposed of 
his property in Oakland Co. He has held numerous 
township offices, and has been closely identified with 
school interests since his settlement in the county. 

Mr. Carpenter was married May 7, 183 1, in Mont- 
gomery County, N. Y., to Juliette Clarke. Siie was 
born February 10, 1805, in the State of New York, 
and is the diughter of Samuel Clarke. Of seven 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, five are 
living. Delia, wife of Alfred Owen of Kansas (who 
died in Kansas, March, 1884), was born Feb. 14, 
1832; Sylvia P. (Mrs. B. F. Thome, residing at 
Bay City) was born Jan. 12, 1835 ; Powell, a farmer 
in Orion, Oakland County, was born Feb. 8, 1837 ; 
Samuel C.,born June 7, 1839, is a carpenter in Mid- 
land ; Stephen I., born Dec. 28, 1841, died Dec. 27, 



1842; Juliette C, born Sept. 29, 1844, is the wife of 
James Van Kleek, of Midland. TJiomas J., born 
June 26, 1850, died Sept. 19, i854- 'I'he mother 
died eight days after the death of the youngest child. 
Mr. Carpenter was a second time married May 26, 
1856, to Catherine Casamer, daughter of Isaac and 
Prudence (Buchner) Casamer, born in Greenville, 
Sussex Co., N. J., Jan. 15, 183 1. Mr. Carpenter has 
been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
since 1S27; his wife has been a member of the 
same religious body since 1847. 

The portrait of Mr. Carpenter, which appears on 
the opposite page, is that of a pioneer citizen of 
Midland City and County. 




^t'rl^ 



Si^^fiC 



rancis J. Barry, proprietor of the Sherwood 
EJjijP House, Midland, is the son of John and 

f' '^''fS"-!\\ Frances Barry, and was born in County 
3 Fermanagh, Ireland, April 29, 1842. He 

^..^ learned the trade of cigar-maker, and wiien 15 
years old came to Toronto, Can. Tlience he 
went to Georgian Bay, where he had an uncle on a 
farm, and two years later returned to Toronto, fol- 
lowing his trade of cigar-maker. 

In 1865 he came to Detroit, and in 1867 to Sagi- 
naw City, in this latter place being for seven and a 
half years foreman in a cigar manufactory. Tlie en- 
suing three years he was in the same business at 
Saginaw for his own profit; and in September, 1877, 
lie came to Midland City and opened a saloon. This 
he conducted until November, 1881. At that time 
he began the erection of the Sherwood House in com- 
pany with William Sherwood, and in April following 
the house was oi)ened to the public. It is a three- 
story brick, 50 by 80 feet in size, with cellar 35 by 40 
feet, containing 21 single apartments and 16 double 
rooms; and having a large stable attached. A car- 
riage goes to all trains, carrying passengers to the 
hotel free, or to any part of the city for 25 cents , and 
horses are also boarded and sold at this stable. Since 
May, 1882, Mr. Barry has been alone in the manage- 
ment of the hotel, wliich has a good reputation, and 
does a thriving business, all well deserved. 

He was first married in Detroit, April i, 1865, lo 
Miss Margaret Parrett, a native of Canada. To iliis 
mairiage were given two cliildrcn : Richard 




VS^ 



9 

h 

11=1 
1=: 



4 



( 



I 



eA<3D mm<>^ — ^^ 




» 



?r^ 



■^^tK-^B 0^ D ilri>v-6 :2<€^^ 



4^^f 



320 



(^ 



(■■> 



(^ 



^^/? 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



at Detroit, May i, 1866; and Ulysses G., born in 
Siiginaw C'ity, June 15, 1871. Mrs. B. died in the 
latter city. He was wedded to his present wife in 
Mihon, Hohoii Co., Can., May 29, 1877. Her maiden 
name was Hannah L. Sherwood, and she was born 
in Holton Townshiii, Holton Co., Can. By this mar- 
riage Mr. Barry has a daughter, Harriet F., born at 
Saginaw t'ity. Tidy 25, 1878; and a son, Thompson 
G., born at Midland, Nov. 13, 1879; and an un- 
named son born June 20, 1884. 

Mr. Barry owns a liouse and lot in the east part of 
the village, five lots on Ellsworth Street and two lots 
and a half near his hotel. He is a member of the 
Royal Arcanum and the Knights of Maccabees. 
Politicallv, he is a staunch Republican. 



>WS' 






?'.; i('7i 




>r?Yfi<S 






^ohn Roberson, farmer on section 32, Jas- 
per Township, was born in Washington Co., 
'" N. v., July 8, 1849. His father, Martin 

Roberson, a native of New Vori<, lived in that 
^C^ State all his life, engaged in farming, and died 

Jan. 12, 1872, aged 55. His mother, Sarah J. 
(Cook) Roberson, was born in Ireland, came to this 
country when 12 years old, and now resides, in good 
heahh, at the age of 57, with her son. 

The subject of this biography was reared on a 
farm, received an academic education, and on ar- 
riving at his majority began teaching. For five win- 
ters he had charge of schools in Saratoga and Wash- 
ington Counties, working on the farm during the sum- 
mers. In March, 187 8, he left his native county 
and came to Rose Township, Oakland Co., Mich., 
and one year later he removed to Springfield Town- 
ship, same county. In December, [879, he came to 
this county and purchased So acres of heavily tim- 
bered land in Jasper Township, where iris mother, 
two brothers, a sister and himself established their 
home. He has imjiroved 40 acres, and built the nec- 
essary farm buildings, and is making creditable prog- 
ress in developing a fine farm. He has taught two 
winters in this county. He is in political sentiment 
a Republican, and has held the offices of Justice of 
the Peace and School Inspector. His mother is a 
member of the Baptist Church. He has two sisters 



and two brothers. Mary E. was born May 31, 1852 ; 
Martha J., Sept. 5, 1857 (now married and residing 
in Ionia County) ; Martin, Feb. 24, 1859; WilHam 
C, Nov. 2, 1865. 




V© 



-ie.* 




% dward McGowan, farmer, section 26, ivlt. 



^L' Haley rownshi|), was born May 6, 1841, 
ft'-t®^"^ in Lanark Co., Ont. His parents, Patrick 
and Mary (Drummond) McGowan, were na- 
tives of Ireland and belonged to the race known 
as Scotch-Irish. They emigrated to the New 
World with their parents in early life, and married 
later in the Dominion, where they spent their lives, 
both dying about 1843. Their family consisted of 
five sons and two daughters. 

Mr. McGowan is the youngest child of his parents, 
and was between two and three years of age when 
they were removed by death. He was taken in 
charge by a paternal uncle, who cared for him until 
he was 15 years old. He s|)ent his time at school 
and as assistant on his uncle's farm. At that age he 
began life for himself, and set out in his single-handed 
struggle with the world as a log-driver on the river 
Tay in Ontario. Later he went to St. Paul, Minn., 
and thence to Minneapolis. His next destination 
was Henderson, in the same State, and he spent the 
ensuing three years at different points in the Minne- 
sota Valley. He proceeded thence to .\rkansas, 
where he suffered severe illness from fever. In i860 
he went to Ohio, and in the fall of the same year he 
returned to the place of his nativity, where, two years 
afterward, he was married. The event occurred Aug. 
18, 1862, when Catherine Carey became his wife. 
She was born June 29, 1840, in Ontario. To Mr. 
and Mrs. McGowan, 14 children have been born, five 
of whom are deceased. Their names are Mary E., 
Ann E., Edward J., Thomas J., James P. and John 
J. (twins), Patrick H., William F. and Leo. Peter 
(ist), James and John (twins), Peter (2d) and P'lor- 
ence A. are deceased. 

Two years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. McGowan 
came to East Saginaw, wherejhe worked as a fireman 
in a saw-mill. In the fall of 1868 he came to Mid- 
land County and entered a homestead claim of 160 
acres of wild land on section 26 of this township. 
He was the first permanent settler in the south half 






••r 

( 



^, 



5 




g^4^r|- 



-^?II!]^DDvt> 



-1^^ 





)^^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



T 



A 



>i 



V 



of Mt. Haley. The nearest neighbors were four miles 
distant, and the "staple product" of the county 
seemed to lie water, a fact owing to its flat surface. 
He has cleared and improved 35 acres of his farm. 

The family aie Roman Catholics in religious be- 
lief. Mr. McClowan is a pronounced Republican in 
his political views; he has been Township Clerk 
several years, and in 1S79 was elected Supervisor, 
which office he has lield ever since, and to which he 
was once previously elected. 



J;!P^<r^T""ohn A. Wayne, farmer and lumberman 
.J lf-'^T section 10, Porter Township, was born in 
'" ( 'harlotteville, Norfolk Co., Ont., Jan. 20) 
1850. When 17 years old he went to Mil- 
jr wankee, Wis., ar.d thence to East Saginaw, where 
\ he engaged to go into the lumber woods of 
Saginaw County, and he continued in that employ- 
ment two years, when he came to Midland County 
and again operated as a lumberman. In March, 
1880, he purchased a farm of 40 acres situated on 
Pine River. Of this, 25 acres are now under culti- 
vation. 

Mr. Wayne is a Republican in political sentiment. 
He was married Aug. 30, 1874, in Mt. Haley Town- 
shi|i, to Martha E. Timmons. She was born Aug. 
23, 1856, ill Macomb Co., Mich. Her parents re- 
moved to Midland County with their family when 
she was 1 2 years old, and are both deceased. Of 
this union live children have been born, four of whom 
died in infancy. The sole surviving child is named 
Archie A. Wayne. 



»«e>--- 



V/ 



'-='=^' 



J: ^\i E. Oswald, farmer on section 30, Jasper 
k 'l'ownshi|), was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, 
^fv§^"^ Jan. 25, 1854. His parents, Jonathan and 
Catharine (Gamber) Oswald, were natives of 
Oiiio, and respectively of English and Pennsyl- 
vania-German descent. The father, a farmer 
and mechanic, died in Ohio, April 14, 1882. The 
mother died in the same State, Feb. 28, 1884. Their 
family numbered 12, 1 i of whom are now living. 

The eighth of these, and fourth son, remained at 
home until 20 years old, and then began work at 




blacksmithing, in which trade he had served a two 
years' apprenticeship. This occupation not being 
suited to his health, he abandoned it, and de- 
voted his time to farming and to carpentry. In 
August, 1876, he came with his brother to this county 
and purchased 40 acres on section 19, Jasper. He 
sold this in the fall of 1880 and established a restau- 
rant at St. Louis, which he managed six months. He 
then came back to Jasper Township and purchased 
40 acres on section 30, where he has since made his 
home. He has improved ten acres. 

Nov. 10, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Lucy Depue, daughter of William T. and Sarah C. 
Depue. She was born in Jasper Township, Oct. 18, 
1863, and lived at home until her marriage, being 
educated in the common school, and also at the St. 
Louis High School. 

Mr. Oswald has been Township Treasurer two 
years. Highway Commissioner one year, and has 
served in various minor offices. He votes the Re- C >) 
publican ticket. 



<>J5o~ 



i 



^ 



h 



( 



'Slj^^Jfndrew Hannah, farmer and lumberman, 
■^Kia/WP ijt-Qtion 24, Porter Township, was born Jan. 



I, 18 1 9, in Ayrshire, Scotland. His father, 
Andrew Hannah, who was a native of the 
\g same shire, and a spinner and weaver by voca- 
1 tion, died in 1S22, when he, the son, was but 
three years of age, and on the death of his father he 
was taken in charge by his paternal grandfather. He 
was brought to America by the latter when he was 
eight years of age, and all trace of his mother is lost. 
His grandfather died in Ontario, Canada. 

Mr. Hannah went when he was 19 years old to 
Upper Canada, where he remained until he was 28 
years old, engaged in the various departments of 
lumbering. He was first married to Mary A. Han- 
nah, who was born in the State of New York about 
the year r828. She afterward went to Upper Cana- 
da, where she lived until her marriage. She died in 
September, 1857, in Haldimand Co., Can., and is now /p) 
survived by four of the six children of whom she 
was the mother. Mr. Hannah came to East Sagi- 
naw in 1865, where he was married to Mrs. Sophia 
(Hannah) Hale, who was boVn Nov. 3, 1834, in Up- 
per Canada. Her mother died when she was six 
years old, and she spent her time in self-support and 



1.'-a 




^«»«^^ — ^^c^iinsniif^^^r^- 




7<^nii:g(ii]f>v 



/^-•^ 



-«^ 



i^^(<^X:( 



•32i 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



W. 

^m 
J 



f 



(^ 



with her father until 1857, when she became the 
wife of Richard Hale. She was widowed the follow- 
ing year. Two years after the second marriage of 
Mr. Hannah, he removed to Midland County and 
entered a homestead claim of 160 acres of timbered 
land. Of this he has placed 20 acres under improve- 
ments, and his farm has proved the wisdom of his 
choice, as its soil is of the best character. 

Mr. Hannah is a Republican in political principles, 
and has held the position of Justice of the Peace 
three years ; has occupied the various school offices. 
The family are Presbyterians in religious convictions. 

Charles, born March 27, 1867 ; Christenia, Aug. 2, 
1872; Jennie, Dec. 16, 1875; Frederick, Sept. 24, 
1877, — are the names of the children born of the 
second marriace of Mr. and Mrs. Hannah. 






^'ohn Gorman, farmer and blacksmith, resi- 
J^^Ik" dent on section 36, Mt. Haley Township, 
swi^'y \vas born in Ireland, July 30, 1832, and 
emigrated to the New World when he was less 
than ten years old, brought hither by his par- 
ents, who made their first location in Ontario, 
Dominion of Canada. He became the master of his 
own forcnnes wlien he was 15 years old, and was 
variously employed until he was 20 years old, when 
he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and found employment 
in the blacksmith shops of that city, oiierating as as- 
sistant for five years in that vocation. He then came 
to Detroit, where he "took a fire " in a shop and re- 
mained in the position about t2 years. At the ex- 
piration of that time, he went to East Saginaw and 
was similarly engaged until 1S76. In that year he 
came to Midland County and became the proprietor 
by purchase of 40 acres of partly improved land. Of 
this, 20 acres are noiv under cultivation. Since his 
residence in Mt. Haley Township, he has devoted 
most of the winter seasons to the pursuit of his trade 
at East Saginaw. 

His marriage to Maria N. Clancy occurred March 
4, 1862, at Detroit. She is a native of Ireland, and 
was born Sept. 29, 1837. Her parents came to 
America when she was ten years old. Of eight chil- 
dren born of her marriage four survive — Lizzie, John 




H., May and Willie. Mr. Gorman is a Democrat in 
political connection; the family are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church. 



eorge W. Van Wegen, farmer on section 
31, Larkin Townsliip, is a son of Daniel 
and Mary (C'uykcndall) Van Wegen, na- 



yj^ tives of Cayuga Co., N. Y., and was born in 
Allegany Co., N. Y., May 22, 1830. He was 

I reared in that State and in Pennsylvania, 
whither his parents removed, and his home was in 
the Keystone State until 1880. He then came to 
Saginaw County, this Slate, where he lived one year; 
and in January, 1S82, he came to Midland County 
and purchased 80 acres in Larkin Township. Here 
he now resides, and he has subdued to cultivation 
25 acres. 

June 6, 1S54, in Jefferson Co., Pa., he took as the 
life partner of his sorrows and joys Miss Cinderella 
Munger, daughter of Charles and Rachel (Cutler) 
Munger, natives of the State of New York. She was 
born in Livingston County, that State, Sept. 27, 1837. 
The six children now belonging to this family are 
named Willard W., Henry H., Elmer N., Grace D., 
May B. and Charles N. 

Mr. Yan W. supports the Republican party, and 
has been School Director. He and wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Ejiiscopal Churcli. 




;$Jharles M. Parmelee, farmer, section 36, 



^llifpfa^ Ingersoll Townshii), is a son of Harry 

^1^ and Elizabeth (Freeman) Parmelee, natives 

m of New Hampshire. The former died in In- 

j gersoU Township, Oct. 29, 1872, and the 

latter in Marshalltown, Iowa, July 30, 1882. 

Charles M. was born in Wayne ("o., Mich., A\n'\\ 
21, 1837; from 14 to 19 years of age he lived in 
Windsor, Ont., employed in a machine shop for three 
years and two years as engineer on the (ireat West- 
ern Railroad; then for two years he ran nn engine 
from Rouse's Point in Vermont to White River 
Tunction. Returning to Michigan, he enlisted, Nov. i , 
1S61, in the "Brady Sharpshooters," which was made 
the 11th Company of the 16th Mich. Inf, and he 



I 



^> 



9 



c^: 



v/ 

*: 






fr'. 



rv^^^#- 



<^[l!l^^^D^> 



-a.^. 






l>5«^^ 



raCJ^ 



:^~N 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



1 



■^ 



i^ 



■ >■ 

1=1 

I 



served three years. At the battle of Cold Harbor he 
was taken prisoner, but remained in the enemy's 
hands only about eight liours, when he was re-cap- 
tured by Gen. Custer's forces. He was in 22 engage- 
ments, prominent among which were the battles of 
Big Bethel, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, second Bull 
Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, siege of 
Yorktown, Siiarpsburg, etc. He was able for duty 
every day while in the service. 

After the war he returned to Michigan, but soon 
went to Chicago, where he had charge of the tele- 
graph lines from that city to Quincy, 111., for two 
years. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and had 
charge of the "United States" lines from Chicago to 
Buffalo for nearly a year. Next, he was employed 
by the Western Union Telegraph Company about a 
year, having his headquarters at Dunkirk, N. Y. 
Then he kei)t a grocery in Saginaw County, this 
State, almost two years ; sold out and passed a winter 
in Chicago; disposed of an improved farm which he 
owned near Mendota, III.; and .finally, in March, 
1870, he came to Midland County and purchased 80 
acres of land in Ingersoll Township, where he has 
since lived, and now has almost 70 acres improved. 

In politics, Mr. Parmelee is independent. 

He was married in Saginaw Co., Mich., July 4, 
1865,10 Elizabeth, daughter of William and Ann 
Glover, tiie former a native of Scotland and the latter 
of Ireland. Mrs. P. was born in Cincinnati, O., 
Dec. 25, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Parmelee are the 
parents of five children, namely: Charles H , Chira 
M., Otis S., Annie I,, and George A. Tlie first two 
are deceased. 



ohn Salsbury, farmer, section 16, Jasper 

f Township, was born in Camden Township; 

Ontario, July 30, 1845. His parents, Luke 




and Sarah (Lee) Salsluiry, were natives also of 
]L the Dominion, and are now deceased, — the 
former departing this life in 1879, at the age of 
76, and the latter in 1881, aged 68: father was a 
farmer. 

In the above family of four sons and five daugh- 
ters, the subject of this sketch was the eighth. He 
lived with jiis parents, assisting on the farm and 
attending the common school, until he was 27 years 




of age, when he was married, in DeKalb Co., 111., 
May 5, 1873, to Miss Mercy Davis, a daughter of E. 
R. and Matilda (Huff) Davis, natives of Ontario, 
and of German and French descent. Mrs. S. was 
born June 22, t85o. She and Mr. S. are parents of 
one child. May, born April 2, 1876. 

Directly after marriage Mr. Salsbury came to Bay 
Co., Mich., and a year later to this county, settling 
on his present place. Of his original purchase of 
160 acres he now owns 120 acres, of wiiich 45 is in a 
good state of cultivation; has also two barns and 
two dwellings on his place. He is laying well the 
foundations of a good home. He has held several 
offices in his township, and in his political principles 
he is a Republican. 

. 000 . 



oc5o~ 




J soil Township, is a son of Frederick and 

|^(^^ Betsey (Hoisted) Hare, who were natives 
'Wk, of the Empire State, moved to Lenawee Co., 
^ Mich., then to Hillsdale County, where they 
5 lived the remainder of their days. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., April 15, 1828. In the fall of 1853, when 
he was 26 years of age, he came to Michigan and 
purchased a farm in Hillsdale County, and, after 
cultivating that place two years, he sold out and re- 
turned to New York State. In April, 1856, he 
bought 80 acres of unimproved land in Ingersoll 
Township, on which he settled two years later. He 
now has about 30 acres in good cultivation. He 
also purchased 88 acres in Saginaw County, which 
he afterward disposed of. In the fall of 1882 he 
bought a saw-mill in Saginaw County, which he 
operated until May, 1883. 

Mr. Hare has been County Superintendent of the 
Poor three years, Township Treasurer eight years, 
Justice of the Peace eight years and School Director 
three years. He entertains Republican views of 
national affairs, and both himself and wife belong to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

In the fall of 1864, Mr. Hare enlisted in the 29th 
Mich. Inf. and served until he was honorably dis- 
charged after the close of the war, at Camp Douglas, 
near Chicago. At the battle of Decatur, Ala., he 
was taken sick, and was confined in the hospital most 



K^ 



eeatur A. Hare, farmer, section ^6, Inger- ( ^ 



% 




§)^^^ 



jL^ 



^mnm<>^ 




^^^^^ 



-6V<^ 



324 



: : ) 



3 



■^ 



of the lime afterward until the dale of his discharge. 
Oct. lo, 1849, in Niagara Co., N. Y., Mr. Hare 
was married to Miss Jeannette F., daughter of 
George and Julia (Stebbins) Brown, lier father a na- 
tive of New Hampshire and her motiier of Con- 
necticut. She was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Oct. 
17, 1827. Mr. and Mrs. Hare are the parents of 
eight children; the four living are Mary J., George 
F., Asahel M. and Willie S.; and the deceased are 
Elizabeth A., Willie D., Josejjh C. and an infant. 

-^^-^%-^ 

4',<lv^j, tephen D. Trowbridge, farmer on section 
^»'b_ 36, Hojie Township, was born m Arcadia 
Townsliip, Ontario (now Wayne) Co., N. 
Y., June 15, 1813, the son of Eli and Anna 
(Dunwell) Trowbridge. His father was of En- 
- glish-German descent, and died in Solon, 
Ohio, aged 84 ; his mother was of mixed English, 
Scotch and Welsh blood, and died in Warrensville, 
Ohio, when 69 years old. They were the parents of 
five children, all of whom are living. Their names 
are Stephen, Phiebe, Cornelia V., Samuel A. and 
Lucretia V. Of these Ste|)hen is the eldest. 

He was reared on tlie paternal farm, and lived 
with his father until of age, moving when 19 years 
old with his father to Solon, Ohio, where they settled 
on a farm of roo acres. On atlaiiiing his majority, 
he endeavored to improve his mind by attending 
school, teaching in the winter seasons. He attended 
the academy in Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., for a time, 
but most of his education was received in the com- 
mon school. He planned a thorough course of 
study for himself, but owing to feeble health was 
forced to abandon this. 

He purchased a farm of 44 acres in Solon, Ohio, 
soon after he was of age. His wife yet owns 15 
acres of that same tract. James A. Garfield (late 
President) gave her $1,000 to build a house on the 
same. On this farm Mr. Trowbridge kept a small 
dairy of 15 cows, and dealt in cheese. He was 
financially unfortunate, and lost all his land except 
the 15 acres mentioned above. He lived on this 
place from 1834 to i86i. 

In the year last mentioned he enlisted in Co. K, 
2d Ohio Vol. Cav. His regiment was on duty near 
Fort Scott, in Eastern Kansas. He was mustered 




MIDLAND COUNTY. 



out at Camp Chase, Ohio, in 1863. His son, Melvin 
M., was in tlie same com[)any, but was mustered out 
previous to the close of his term of enlistment, on ac- 
count of sickness. 

Returning from the army, Mr. T. cultivated for 
one year the little farm in Solon, and then, in 1864, 
came to Midland County. Here he filed his claim 
to a tract of land under the Homestead Act. He 
then went back to Ohio. Returning to this county 
in the spring of 1865, he made some maple sugar, 
and 'then set about makmg a permanent home. He 
has since resided here, with the exception of occa- 
sional visits to Ohio. 

July 30, 1837, was the date of his marriage, in 
.Solon, Ohio, to Miss Mehitabe' B. Garfield, daughter 
of Abram and Eliza (Ballon) Garfield, and sister of 
the late martyr President. .She was born Jan. 28, 
1 82 1, in Independence, Ohio, and was the eldest of 
four in her father's family, whose names were Mehit- 
abel, Thomas, Mary and James A. 

Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge have become the parents 
of four children, as follows : .\nna E., born Sept. 
12, 1838, in Orange, Ohio; Mary E., March 4, 1840, 
in Solon, Ohio; Melvin M., Nov. 14, 1845, in .Solon, 
and died March 9, 1864, in Bridgeport, Ala., having 
re-enlisted in the ist Mich. Mech. and Eng; Alta 
Estella, Sept. 11, i860, in Solon, and married to John 
Hawkins, in December, 1880. 

Mr. Trowbridge is in political faitlr a member of 
the National patrv. He is very progressive in liis 
views, and has always taken a brave stand for what 
lie believed lo be right. He has been Township 
Clerk and School Inspector, and was elected Justice 
of the Peace, but did not qualify. He is a memlier 
of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and his wife 
of the Disci|)les' Church. Mr. 'I", w.ts tlie tutor of 
Gen. Garfield when the latler was 16 vears old. 



,!. ; (?;(] raneis Oliver, farmer, sec. 26, Porter Town- 
•vikE J, sliii), was born Ai)ril 24, 1820, in Yorkshire, 
'&S^' " J'^'ia-i where his parents, William and 
^i^ Rachel (Hutty) Oliver, were born. They emi- 
-^'k^ grated to Canada, where the father died, in 
I 1876, at the age of 84 years. The mother died 
a few years ago near Port Huron, Mich., aged about 
80 years. Their family included four daughters and 



V^ 



A 



c^: 



< 
( 



K 




<^n!igDii;>^ 



Ci. 



-f^^^ 





^^^ 



f 



i 



i 

1 

^ 

(!) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-e®S> 



l^^((sV§ 



325 



two sons. Two of the former and one of the latter 
are dead. 

Mr. Oliver was the eldest child of his parents and 
lived at home assisting on the farm of his father un- 
til he was of age. On attaining liis majority he 
came to St. Thomas, Ont., where he became the 
owner of 100 acres of land and pursued the calling 
of a farmer until the fall of 1873, when he came to 
Michigan and purchased 40 acres of land in Porter 
Township, where he has since devoted liis attention 
to his interests as an agriculturist. He has improved 
30 acres and increased the material value of the 
place by the addition of suitable farm buildings. 
Mr. Oliver is a Democrat in his political relations, 
and has been the incumbent of the various offices in 
his school district. 

He was married in January, 1851, to Ann Maugh- 
ey. She is a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and 
was born in July, 1827. .She came when in girlhood 
to Canada with her parents. Ten children have 
been born of her marriage, named as follows : 
Catherine, Rachel, Dinah, John, Ellen, Anna, Alice, 
Mary A., Samuel and Francis. The four last named 
are dead. The daughters are ail married except 
Anna. 




illiam L. Stearns, real-estate broker, resi- 
dent at Midland City, was born March 
jm:r<r\ 3°> i'^3°> ''i Brunswick, Medina t'o., Ohio, 
•^kSi, '^"d is a son of Daniel and Mary (Mclntyre) 
Stearns. His parents were both of New En- 
,laiid origin. The former was born Sept. 29, 
1795, the latter Jan. .S, 1797. They were married 
Dec. 27, 1826, at Wadsworth, Medina Co., Ohio. 
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Stearns, John and 
Lucy Stearns, removed to Medina County vi'ith their 
family and entered vigorously into pioneer labor in 
the township of Brunswick, where they were among 
the firstof the permanent settlers. To that date, previ- 
ous comers had made their way to their new homes 
witho.\ teams. The transit of the family and effects of 
the Stearns household was effected by means of a 
two-horse team, driven by Daniel Stearns from Cleve- 
land, where they left the boat, to Medina ('ounty. 
These were the first horses driven into Medina 
County. The Mclntyre family were also pioneers of 
that County. 




The family of John Stearns included six sons and 
one daughter: John M. and Lucy M., eldest born, 
were twins; William L., Frank M., David E., Daniel 
M. and Charles W. are the names of the others, and 
are all living, except the eldest son, who died in 
1S61, and the father of Mr. Stearns, whose demise 
occurred Jan. 2, 1873, at Berea, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 
whither he had removed with his family in 1844. 
He was a farmer all his life, but from his tem[)era- 
ment and abilities was eminently fitted for a pioneer. 
The mother of Mr. Stearns is yet living. 

The subject of this sketch.was reared on a farm 
and remained at home as his father's assistant until 
he was of age. At 21 years old he connected him- 
self with a construction corps on the Cleveland & 
Columbus Railroad, and, after its completion, 
engaged in its service as a fireman. He acted in 
that capacity on the engine that drew the first pass- 
enger train over the road. He was in the same 
employment about two years, during whicji time he 
received a severe injury. While engaged in firing 
on the leading engine, which, in connection with an- 
other, was drawing a heavy freight train into the city 
ot Cleveland, the boiler of the auxiliary engine burst, 
killing the engineers on both, and nearly scalping 
Mr. Stearns. This is believed to be one of the first 
accidents from a locomotive boiler explosion on 
record. It occurred in 1846. He was disabled two 
months. He followed railroading about 12 years, 
operating chiefly in the capacity of engineer.. 

In 1858 Mr. Stearns embarked in a mercantile 
enterprise at Berea, in which he was still interested 
when the culmination of partisan issues, created by 
the misguided and infuiiated South, merged into civil 
war. In 1862, when the rebel forces in Kentucky, 
under Gen. Bragg, threatened the invasion of Cin- 
cinnati, Gov. Tod made a requisition for volunteers 
for the defense of the city. One of its results was 
the organization, of an independent company of 
sharpshooters, comprising over 100 picked men, 
under Capt. G. M. Barber. They were designated 
"Squirrel Hunters," for obvious reasons. (Riflemen 
understand the technical skill recpiiredin the pastime 
of squirrel-shooting, which is general in the Buckeye 
State.) Mr. Stearns left his business to enroll in the 
company, and on its organization was made Orderly 
Sergeant. The service continued two weeks, and on 
its dismemberment Gov. Tod conferred upon each of 
its members a card, bearing the device of a squirrel 






^ 

^ 

ii 



^=«»= %:^.»m\ir>^ 





T 



<^DIl^;DDr> 



' v O 
MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-#^(^^V^I 



V 

?• 

/> 



f 

> 




and containing his certified statement of his appre- 
ciation of their action in responding to his summons. 
In the fall of the same year Mr. Stearns again en- 
listed, enrolling in the Fifth Ohio Vol. Inf. He was 
in a company of sharpshooters under his former 
Captain (Barber), which was detailed as guard at tiie 
headquarters of Gen. Rosecrans. 

After the engagement at Missionary Ridge, Mr. 
Stearns was ordered to Cleveland on recruiting 
service, with a commission as Second Lieutenant. 
He enlisted 40 recruits for three companies of shar[)- 
shooters, and organized two full companies. He re- 
mained in Cleveland until Gen. Burnside was ordered 
to the Potomac, when he joined his command, re- 
ceiving a commission as Captain of Co. G, 6oth 
Ohio Vol., his command and that of the second 
company which he had enlisted, doing duty as flank 
[juard. Capt. Stearns took his position April 20, 
T864, and was a participant in all the engagements 
until tlie fall of Richmond, when he resigned. He 
was made Major Aug. 20, 1864, after the battle of 
Stone Tavern, W. Va. He went through the entire 
period of his service with but slight injury. During 
the siege of Petersburg he sustained a slight womid. 

On obtaining his release from the service of the 
United States, he returned to Ohio and resumed his 
business, which he continued until 1874. He had 
merged his commercial relations in the hardware 
trade, and at the date named he opened an office for 
traffic in real estate. He continued to conduct his 
operations in that line until Oct. i, 1883, when he 
opened his present business at Midland. He had 
been a heavy land-holder in the county since 1875, 
when he bought about 6,000 acres of land. He has, 
since that date, operated heavily in real estate in 
Midland County, and still owns about 2,000 acres of 
farming lands, one-half of which is situated in the 
township of Midland, near the county seat. He is 
the proprietor of the Mineral Spring property on 
Larkin Street, and owns in connection therewith the 
boarding and bath houses. The water is justly cele- 
brated fot its medicinal properties and enjoys a large 
patronage. Mr. Stearns handles all kinds of ]irop- 
erty, personal as well as real estate, and manages an 
exchange business. He owns three dwellings and 
several building lots in Berea, Ohio, also a homestead 
lot and a number of vacant lots at Cleveland. He 
also owns property in the city of Ft. Wayne, Ind. 
His residence at Midland is attached to the bath 



house near the springs. He is "a member of the 
Order of Masonry and of the Odd Fellows. 

Mr. Stearns was married in 1854, in Berea, Ohio, 
to Sarah Caswell. She died at Wellsville, Ohio, 
leaving a son, who is now deceased. Mr. Stearns 
was a second time married, in Wellsville, to Mattie, 
daughter of John and Ann (Malin) Lawrence. Slie 
was born in Wellsville, March 31, 1834, and is the 
mother of one daughter, Minnie. Her parents were 
early settlers in Jefferson Co., Ohio. 





Iij.javid A. Mills, farmer, section 23, Ingersoll 
1 Township, is a son of Harvey E. and Me- 
'M'^^ linda (Crampton) Mills; his father was 
P** born in Rose, Wayne Co., N. Y., and his 
^ mother in Addison, Vt. After marriage they 
S resided in Wayne County until 1840, when 

they came to Lapeer Co., Mich., where he (the 
father) died, Oct. 26, 1850. In the fall of 1855 '"^ 
widowed mother married Alpheus Chapman and 
settled in Saginaw County, where she died Sept. 30, 
1866. By her first marriage there were seven chil- 
dren : Harvey C, Peter A., Harriet P., Emily E.) 
David A., Jane D. and Harvey C. (2d). 

The subject of this sketch was born in Hadley, 
Lapeer Co., Mich., July 15, 1841; attended school 
only until nine years of age, as then his father died 
and until 14 years old he had to assist in sup[)orting 
the family. At the latter age he went to live with 
an older sister, and about two years afterward his 
mother bought for him a farm of 80 acres, in Inger- 
soll Township, where she lived with him until her 
death in 1866. He then rented a farm in Saginaw 
County, carried it on two years, and then returned to 
his farm in this county, where he has since resided, — 
except six months in Midland. He has sold 20 acres 
of his place, and now has about 35 acres in a good 
tillable condition. 

In his district he has been Justice of the Peace, 
Highway Commissioner, Constable, and is at present 
Deputy Sheriff. Politically, he is identified with the 
Republican party. 

Mr. Mills was married in Saginaw County, Aug. 
14, 1861, to Eliza A., daughter of Phineas F. and 
Mary (Chase) Pierce. (See sketch of P. F. Pierce.) 
She was born in Erie Co., N. Y., July 23, 1838. Mr 



<^ 



i 



V 



\§)^^^ 



.^ 



<:DIl^[lllf^ 



z. 







lL4^\nf\^ J^c 







^^yA^/^^^^C^^iy{^0<^^/ 




®)$^#' 



M J BLAND COUNTY. 



y 



/7S 






(Q^ 



I 



^ 



and Mrs. Mills adopted a young child named Anna 
B. Jelley, to whom was conseciuently given their own 
name of Mills. She grew ui) in the family and was 
married, but died three months afterward, at the 
home of her foster parents. 



eorge W. England, section lo, Lee Town- 
ship, was born in Hocking Co., Ohio, Nov. 
'^ 2 1, 1846, and is a son of Titus and Mary 




J. (I)evvhirst) England, natives respectively of 
Germany and England. The father died be- 
fore his son was born, and the mother died 
when he was but seven months old, in Ontario, 
wliither she had gone just after his birth. The 
orphan, thus so sadly bereft, was cared for by liis 
grandparents until he was 13 years old, when he set 
out in the world for himself. 

First he came to Michigan and began to work for 
(!!harles Roe, a drover of Detroit ; then for J. J. 
Baker, of the same place, operating between Ontario 
and Detroit; afterward he worked a year in Macomb 
County, when, Jan. 27, 1863, he enlisted for the war, 
in Co. G, Eighth Mich. Cav., of the Army of 
the Cumberland, Colonel Mi.x commanding. He 
was in the battles of Knoxville and Nashville, 
and two days after the general capture at Millbury 
Creek he was taken prisoner at that place. Attempt- 
ing escape from the general capture, he lost his 
weapons and his horse was drowned in a river, and 
he was hunted down with Ijlood-hounds. After 
baffling his pursuers for some lime he was compelled 
to climb a tree, where he was taken by rebel citizens. 
He was first taken to Andersonville prison, then to 
Charleston and Florence, S. C, and was a prisoner 
of war for a period of six months. At the latter 
place he was paroled on a 90-days furlough, and he 
re-jomed his regiment and served till the close of the 
war, being discharged Sept. 22, 1865, at Nashville, 
Tenn. 

Returning to Macomb County, he married Miss 
Martha Jane Knowles, a native of Ontario. She 
was born May 3, 1846, came to Michigan when 18 
years old, and was passed 19 when she was married. 
The children by this marriage were, William, de- 
ceased, George B. and Margaret. Mrs. E. died on 
section 2, Lee Township, Sept. 18, 1877, and Mr. E. 




was again married Aug. 28, 1878, in Detroit, Mich., 
to Miss Alzora Thalcher, who was born in Muske- 
gon, Mich., April 18, 1853, but was brought u]) prin- 
cipally in Ontario. 

Mr. England now owns 95 acres on section 2, Lee 
Township, where he settled in 1875; but he now re- 
sides with Jacob S. Bisbing, on section 10. Mr. E. 
is a Re|)ublican in his political preferences, and is 
now serving his fourth year as Constable. 



-ij£j2j2rE^-«— ^^|<! 



i^|®<OTTO»~ 



"m-m 




;_ohn Haley, of the firm of Clason & Haley, 



^'^-'y' ■- liverymen and undertakers at Midland, and 
. , ' ' ' senior member of the lumber firm of Haley 

.(V & Covert, was born Oct. 24, 1845, in County 
Wicklow, Ireland. His parents, William and 

1 Elizabeth (Kehoe) Haley, came to this country 
and settled in Canada, in 1852. They lived on a 
farm in the Dominion during their residence there, 
and can)e to Michigan in 1871. He died in Mid- 
land, March 16, 1879, and his wife at the same place 
Dec 23, 1879. 

In the winter of 1864-5 '^^ came to Michigan and 
was employed in the lumber woods of Tuscola Coun- 
ty during that season. In the winter following he 
came to Midland County, where he was similarly 
engaged. In 1870 he was employed by John L.irkin 
and took charge of his heavy lumber interests in the 
woods and on the river. He continued the manage- 
ment of that business about nine years, when he 
commenced jobbing in his own behalf, and is still 
engaged in both capacities. In September, 1883, he 
formed a partnership with G. W. Covert and entered 
extensively into lumbering interests. In the winter 
ensuing they put in 15,000,000 feet. They own 200 
acres of land, known as the Eastman farm, which is 
considered the best property in the county They 
employ an average force of 125 men in the woods 
and about 18 teams. He owns, singly, 120 acres in 
the township of Larkin. The firm of Clason & . 
Haley own their stables, office and two lots. They 
usually keep about 20 horses, and livery equipments 
as their business demands. 

Mr. Haley has served two years on the Village 
Board, and was appointed Supervisor in place of R. 



I 

^ 






fo) 




i^^^jjs: ^7K^D!]^Dr>^T9 ^«»^ 



4^?f<2^ 





<^:Utl^DIl^>-^ 



>l!5\J5^'t^ 



o 



^ 



> 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



W. Clason on the election of the latter as County 
Treasvirer. He was married Jan. i8, 1870, in Sagi- 
naw City, to Mary, daughter of William B. and 
Joanna Keeley, a native of Canada. They have 
three children — Lizzie, born Dec. 7, 1871; William 
P., torn Jan. 4, 1875 ; and .Vnna, born Jan. 8, 1S77. 
Politically, Mr. H. affiliates with the Republican 
I'-arty. 

The jiatrons of this volume will ai)preciate the por- 
trait of Mr. Haley, wliich appears elsewhere. It is 
that of a popular and public-spirited citizen of Mid- 
land County. Its value to the family circle is fully 
com[)leted by the genial likeness of Mrs. Haley, which 
accompanies that of her husband. 



^-^ 



. K^H ^ Idridge S. Gotham, farmer on section 16, 

c: [W^],.-i Larkin 'l'ownshi|), is a son of Solomon and 
^i^ Elizabeth (King) C.othani, natives of tlie 



State of New York ; and was born in Jefferson 
Co., N. Y., June 6, 1840. He came to Mid- 
land County in the fall of 1S69 and entered 80 
acres of Government land in Lincoln Township, 
which he afterward disposed of. Si.x years later he 
purchased 40 acres in Larkin Townsliip, where he 
now lives, and has 16 acres improved. 

Dec. 24, i860, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., he was 
united in marriage with Miss Claia Howe, daughter 
of William and Almira (Kendall) Howe. She was 
born in Jefferson Co., N. Y\, .'Vpril 14. 1S44. George 
E., Eunice E. and Byron F. are the names of the 
younger members of Mr. and Mrs. Gotham's house- 
hold. 

Mr. G. is in [xjlitical belief a Republican. He has 
been Health Officer, Overseer of Highways and 
School Director. He and wife are members of the 
Christian Church. 




eorge N. Brown, farmer, section i6, Jas- 
per Township, was born in Hastings Co., 
'^ Ont., Dec. 7, 1852. For a sketch of his 
parents, see biography of Charles S. Brown, in 
this work. When he was 16 years of age he 
came with his parents to Michigan, to the 
where they now reside, where he assisted on 




the farm until his marriage, June i, 1875, to Miss 
Mary \. Turner. She was born in Madison Co., 
Wis., Oct 28, 1857, and her parents are Samuel and 
Grace (McLaughlin) Turner. (See sketch.) When 
seven years of age she came with her parents to sec- 
tion 19, Jasper Townshi[). 

Previous to his marriage, Mr. Brown had purchased 
80 acres of unimproved land on section i6, Jasper 
Townshiji, and since his marriage has resided on 
that place. He has added 40 acres to his original 
purchase, and of the aggregate he now has 50 acres 
in an advanced state of cultivation, and the i)lace 
furnished with good buildings, etc. 

In his views of national policy Mr. Brown main- 
tains the Republican platform, and in his township 
he has been entrusted with the office of Highway 
Commissioner. He and his wife attenil the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. 



^*-^^ 



;l|l^[|[( ohn P. Patterson, late farmer on section 
I^Bft' 16, Hojje Township, was born in County 



Bright's disease, Oct. 22, 18S3. He was the 
son of John and Martha (Watts) Patterson. 
The parents were born, lived anil died in 
County Antrim, and reared five children, named 
Fergus Watt, Matilda Jane, David Moore, Mary Ann 
and John Paul. 

The last named, the youngest of tlie family, re- 
mained on the paternal farm in Ireland until i860, 
when he emigrated to Petersborough Co., Can. There 
he purchased 300 acres and fixed his home for a 
time. For five years he was engaged in the whole- 
sale licjuor and grocery trade. There he lived until 
1 868, when he sold out and came to this State and 
county. He bought 30 acres in Hope Township, 
and afterwards added 40 acres. All this was in its 
primitive condition at the time of purchase, but tiiere 
are now improved all the original 30 acres, and 20 
acres of the second purchase. 

He was first married in County Derry, Ireland, 
when 21 years old, to Jane Clark, who died after one 
year, leaving a daughter, Mary Smw, now the wife of 
Benjamin Lee. His second marriage occurred in 
1842, in County .Antrim, to Mary .\nn McMullen, 
daughter of John and Kate (Murjihy) McMullen. 



4 



I 



Antrim, Ireland, in 1818, and died, of v*'* 



( 



\ 



1 



\^^^^^ 



J^ 



<^D!i:^^liii>> 



A 



«^^jf 







Z2^&K — 6-i<myM'^> 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



333 



'^ 



4 






Both Mr. and Mrs. McM. are deceased. Of their 
14 children, eigln became men and women, and their 
names are Daniel, Charles, Bridget, John, William, 
Mary Ann, Katie and Elizabeth. Mrs. Paltersoii 
was born about 1827, and has been the mother of 13 
children, seven of whom are living. Following is 
the record: David, born Nov. 22, 1859, in County 
Antrim; John 1'., Sept. 16, 1862, in I'etcrsboroiigh 
Co., Can.; Wui. James, Feb. 5, 1865, in same county; 
Charles Alexander, May 6, 1867, in same county; 
Elizabeth k., Se|)t. 22, 1868, in I'ort Hope, Can., 
and died A[)ril 30, 1869; George Thomas, Feb. 16, 
1 87 1, in Hoi)e Township, this county; Katie Ann, 
May 8, 1873, in same township; Daniel, Sept. 23, 
1876, in same township. Five others died in 
infancy. 

Mr. P. was politically inde[)endent. He was High- 
way Commissioner one term, and held some school 
office for nine years. 



•V-i.*' uc 



'\ 'iT-?r- 




eorge W. Abbey, jeweler at Midland City, 
was born March 15, 1849, in Ashtabula 
^ Co., Ohio. His father, Eli S. Abbey, was 
born Oct. 9, 1823, at South Uidge, Ashtabula 
Co., Ohio, and was the son of Shubal Abbey. 
'he eariiest traceable ancestor was Abner 
Abbey, who was born in 1739, at Amherst, Mass ,and 
married Sarah Sweetland, also a native of the Bay 
.State. He died at the age of 44 years, leaving ten 
sons and daughters, all of whom reached mature life 
and became heads of families. Shubal Abbey, his 
son, was born June 17, 1793, in Granby, Mass. He 
was a resident of his native State until he was 22 
years old, when he came to what was then Salem, 
Ashtabula Co., Ohio, but is now Conneaut. He 
went thence to Norwalk, Ohio, where he is yet living, 
at the age of gi years. He was married Dec. 25, 
i8t6, to Sarah Sanford, a native of Litchfield, Conn. 
Ten children were born to them, only two of whom 
survive. Mrs. Harriet (Abbey) Farnham, widow of 
Elisha Farnham, is the oldest child; she was born 
Oct. 24, 1817, at Salem, and now resides at South 
Ridge, Ohio. Aaron Abbey was born Sept. 11, 1825, 
at Salem, and is now a resident of Norwalk, Ohio. 
His father is a member of his family. Eli S. Abbey 
.resided nearly all his life in the place of his nativity. 



and married Maiia S. Cheney. He was a farmer by 
occupation, and about a year before his death his 
health became seriously impaired, and he went to 
('ohimbus, Ohio, where he died, Aug. 10, 1.S4S. His 
wife was born Dec. 8, 1825, in Stratford, Orange Co., 
Vt., and died May 5, 1S65, in Spring Township, 
Crawford Co., l^a. 

Mr. Abbey, of this skelcli, rciuained on the farm 
at home until he was 15 years old, and in 1864 lie 
went to Conneaut, Oliio, for the [lurjiose of acquiring 
the details of tlie business in whicli he has since en- 
gaged. He passed three years in completing a thor- 
ough knowledge of the minutiae of the trade, and in 
1868 came to Bay ("ity, Mich., where he oljtained 
employment. A few months later he went to Clio, 
Genesee County, and opened an establishment for 
the prosecution of his trade in his own interest, where 
he continued four years. 

While there he was married, Sept. 22, 187 1, in 
Tittabawassee Township, Saginaw County, to Sarah 
J. Elden. She was born May 27, 1847, in New York, 
and is the daughter of James and Angelica (Sigsby) 
Elden. In the fall of 1872 he opened his present 
establishment at Midland, where he is the oldest and 
leading representative of his calling. His stock is 
valued at $5,000, and includes clocks, watches, sil- 
ver-ware,]optical goods, fine jewelers' wares, diamonds, 
musical merchandise and all sundries ccjnnnon to a 
first-class jeweler's house. He occupies a fine brick 
building, which he erected in the fall of 1879, two 
stories high and iS bj* 60 feet in dimensions. lie 
owns a fine residence, with grounds including three 
village lots, two building lots variously situated, 200 
acres of land in Lincoln Township, and is also a 
stockholder in the Star Flouring Mills. 




It eorge Starks, lumberman, section 23, Ho- 
mer Township, was born May 4, 1854, in 
'^ Genesee Co., N. Y. He is the son of 
George and Catherine Starks, who came to 
Homer Township in 1854, and, after a resi- 
dence of six months, returned to the State of 
New York. They came back to Midland County in 
1856, where their son has since resided. His father 
died when he was 12 years old, and he was thence- 
forward under the guidance of his mother, who later 






I 



Vi:^ 



J 



C'l 
1=3 






( 



ms: 



:t#^ 



334 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^¥^^(srvM 






>^ 



became the wifeof Cliailes Cronkright. He remained 
at liome until he was 22 years of age. His marriage 
to Dora Smith occurred April 3, 1876. She was born 
in Homer Township, Feb. 14, 1855, and is thedaugh- 
ter of Stephen and Harriet Smith. Her mother died 
in her early childhood. The children who constitute 
the issue of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Starks 
were born as follows: George, April 21, 1877; Me- 
linda, Feb. 25, 1880; Catherine, born Sept. 29, 1882, 
died March i, 1884. 

Mr. Starks is a Republican, and has been Highway 
Commissioner two years. He owns 40 acres of land, 
and has 24 acres under improvements. Within the 
last eight years he has put in 10,000,000 feet of logs. 

-•es- — 

'homas Nickels, superintendent of the lum- 
ber camp of Wright & Ketcham, in the 
r^ northern part of Lincoln Township, was 
born Sept. 19, 1848, in the city of Montreal, 
where his parents still reside, his father being 
engaged in farming. In 1864 Mr. Nickels came 
to Saginaw, and since then has been engaged in lum- 
bering; for the last seven years he has been con- 
nected with Wright & Ketcham, of Saginaw, who 
have extensive interests in this county. 



(^ 





m 



i7 
l^harles Oswald, carpenter and joiner, and 

11?^ farn-.er on section 19, Jasper Townsliip, 

was born March i, 1849, in Trumbull Co., 

■9 'Ohio, where he lived until his marriage. When 

,-S^ 18 years of age he was api:)renticed for two 

years to learn his trade under David Keefer, 

after the expiration of which time he worked as a 

journeyman until he was married. This latter event 

took place Jan. 8, 1873, the lady of his choice being 

Miss Amanda Murberger, who was born in Warren 

Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, Oct. 9, 1850. From 

the age of 16 until she was married she taught school. 

She is a member of the Church of United Brethren. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. O. are Chloe B., Mary 

E. and Clyde H. 

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Oswald resided in 

Trumbull Co., Ohio, three years, he following his 

trade; thence, in August, 1876, he came to this State 



and settled on an unimproved tract of 76 acres, where 
he now resides. He has since cleared and inijiroved 
about 40 acres, erected good farm buildings, etc. 

Mr. Oswald votes with the Republicans, and has 
been honored, by liis fellow citizens, with the office 
of Justice of the Peace. 




j {benjamin T. Puffer, farmer and lumber- 
man, resident on section 17, of Porter 




^ 



<^D!1 



g)(¥'''" Township, was horn Oct. 27, 1844, in 

® Erie Co., Pa. His father and mother, Eras- 
tus and Diana (Catlin) Puffer, are natives of 
\'ermont, of New England origin, and are 
now living in Crawford Co., Pa., and are aged re- 
spectively 90 and So years. Of 10 children born to 
them but one is deceased. 

Mr. Puffer is the youngest son and eighth child of 
his parents, who removed, when he was nine years 
old, to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where he remained until 
he was 22 years of age, working on his father's farm 
and obtaining his education in tlie manner common 
to farmers' sons. When he arrived at the age named 
he decided on the calling of a builder for a vocation 
in life, and spent three years in its pursuit in Ashta- 
bula ('ounty. In the fall of 1868 he came to 
Michigan, and in the sinin" following he purchased 
the property he now owns, in Porter Township, com- 
l)rising 70 acres of unimproved land. The family 
were among tlie first permanent settlers in the town- 
sliip, which was not organized until the year follow- 
ing their arrival. When the election of the officers 
of Porter Township took place, Mr. Puffer was 
elected Town Clerk. In addition to improving his 
farm he has engaged to a considerable extent in 
lumbering, and has met with a reasonable reward for 
his efforts in both directions. The value and appear- 
ance of his farm is materially enhanced by a new 
stock and grain barn, 36 by 46 feet in dimensions, 
which is now in process of erection. Mr. Puffer is a 
Republican in political affiliation, and has served a 
number of years in the more important local offices 
of the township. He has been Clerk four years, 
Supervisor four years and Highway Commissioner 
two years. 

He was married Nov. 16, 1866, in Erie Co., Pa., to 

^IDi1>-^ ^^^ 



/' 

A 



c^: 






,1 
I 





^^^ 



-^^^^ — ©v<^ll n :^: n lis>r 



■55$^^^^ 






>5 



V 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




Elizabeth Grover, who was born April 30, 1847, at 
Hoosac Falls, Rensselaer Co., N. Y. The children 
now comprised in the household are Benj. J., born 
Dec. 30, 1869, and Lizzie M., May 30, 1874. 

fohn Grace, farmer on section 3, Lee Town- 
ship, was born in Ireland in 1829, and 
when ten years old he came by himself to 
Ontario, after having spent some time as cabin 
boy on Atlantic vessels. After passing a short 
lime in Ontario, he went again upon the sea, 
and was upon Atlantic ships for 15 years; then was 
several years '"before the mast" on lake vessels, mak- 
ing his headquarters at Oswego, N. Y. ; next, was 
upon the great ocean again, serving on transports 
carrying army supplies during the Crimean war, and 
after making two trips from England, he came again 
to Oswego, and thence to Rochester, N. Y., where 
he began again as a sailor on the lakes; tlien, at 
East Saginaw, Mich., for 14 years, he was engaged 
principally upon the docks. 

Li the summer of 1876, he came to this county 
and jjought 80 acres of land where he now resides, 
having about 20 acres improved. Politically, Mr. 
Grace votes with the Democratic party, and he and 
Mrs. Grace are both members of the Catholic 
Church. He was married in 1864, in Ontario, to 
Miss Mary O'Brien, who was born in Ireland in 1849 
and came to Ontario about two years before her mar- 
riage. Mr. and Mrs. G. have had seven children, 
two of whom are deceased, — Johnny and an infant. 
The living are Robert, Mary, Katie, William and 
Martin. 



}| oger W. Clason, Treasurer of Midland 
County, and senior member of the livery 
firm of Clason & Haley, of Midland, was 
^VSf born Aug. 13, 1853, in McHenry Co., 111., and 
is a son of Charles and Polly (Thompson) 
Clason. 

His father was a farmer, and he was reared on the 
home place, attending school winters until he was 16 
years old, when he came to Midland and spent a 
winter in the lumber woods. His nexi engagement 




was in a saw-mill, where he remained in the same 
employ ten years, three of which he operated as a 
sawyer, and the remainder of the time as a con- 
tractor, cutting shingles, bolts, etc. This engage- 
ment continued until the spring of 1880. In Jan- 
uary of that year he became proprietor by purchase 
of an interest in a livery establishment, the firm 
taking the style of Clason & Avery. The last named 
sold his moiety in May, 1882, to John Haley, and the 
firm style became as at present. The business of 
the concern, besides its regular livery interests, in- 
cludes undertaking, and is the only establishment 
dealing in the wares of that avenue of business in 
the county. They keep 20 horses and livery fixtures 
suitable to the demands of their patronage. Mr. 
Clason is a Republican, and in the spring of 1880 he 
was elected Village Treasurer on that ticket. He 
held the position three years. He was Clerk of the 
Township at the same time two years, and, in the 
spring of 1882, he was elected Supervisor, officiating 
one year. In November, 1882, he was nominated 
for the position of County Treasurer, and ran against 
Daniel Chase, prosecuting a successful campaign, 
being elected by 19 majority; and was re-nominated 
for the same office for the second term, Aug. :i, 
1884. He belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows. 

Mr. Clason was married at Midland, in June, 1873, 
to Sarah, daughter of Harrison and Sarah Ellsworth. 
Two children, Emery and Roger G., have Ijeen 
born of this marriage. 

The portrait of Mr. Clason, which may be found 
on the opposite jwge, will be welcomed by the pa- 
trons of this work. 



/ 



c^: 









I- 7 ' 

r .A I 



J^janiel Casey, farmer, section 26, Mt. Haley 

''}\. Township, was born in October, 1847, in 

^ the south part of Ireland. His parents. 



S 




^^m^t 



^m^^M^ 



f<<< John and Johannah (Dillon) Casey, were also 
,ij natives of the "land of the harp and sham- 

4 rock," and emigrated to Ontario, Can., where JL^ 

they belonged the rest of their lives to the agricult- V 
ural class. | 

Mr. Casey is the fourth of eight children born to -4' 

his parents, and accompanied them to America when Wd 

he was ten years old. His fatlier died when he was ^^ 

12, and upon him devolved a share of the mother's ^j 

support, until her death five years later. After that ^ 




-^1^^ — ^v<^iio^:oii^>^ 



^i-^ 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



(h 



>0 
A 






event he continued his struggle in life as a laborer 
and farm assistant. He was married May 9, 1858, to 
Margaret O'Donnell. She was born in Septemlicr, 
1845, 'i"<^ 's "1^' diuightcr of Michael and Catherine 
(Cronan) O'Donnell, who tiled in Ireland, the land 
of their nativity. The deatli of the father occurred 
in 1847. Tlie niotiier died when the daughter was 
i6 years old, and when the latter had reached the 
age of iS slie made her way alone to Ontario, Can., 
where she was married one and a half years later. 

After marriage Mi. and Mrs. Casey located on a 
farm in Crav Co., Out., wliere they resided until the 
fall of 1872, when they came to the United .'states 
and located in tlie city of East Saginaw, Mich. Mr. 
Casey found emiiloymcnl in tiie railroad shops of 
that place, where he remained until the sining ol 
1878, when he came to Midland County and pur- 
chased 50 acres of uuimprovetl land. On tins he 
has lived and labored since the date of iiis settle- 
ment, and has cleared and otherwise improved 20 
acres. He is a Democrat in his political views and 
connections, and has held several local offices. The 
family are Roman Catholic in their religiotis faith. 
Of 1 1 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Casey, four are 
deceased, all of whom died in early infancy. Tiiose 
who survive are named: Hannah, Catherine, John, 
Mary, Maggie, Klla and Daniel. 





^^M illiam Kelly, merchant at MiiUand City, 
-; one of the earliest of the permanent 
^i-^'''" pioneer settlers of Midland County. He 
^) was born Dec. 18, 1832, in the City of New 
York. His parents were natives of Ireland, 
and emigrated in early life to .America. 
Mr. Kelly is the eldest of the chddren born to 
them, and accompanied them to Cortland County, 
N. Y., when he was but tliree years old. He re- 
mained in tliat county until he reached the age of 
8 years, when he went to ^V'yolni^lg, Pa., where he 
attended a seminary nearly one year. In the (allot 
1853 he came to Saginaw, Mich., and proceeded 
thence to Midland County. 

The site of the village known as Midland City, 
then called "The Forks," was situated on a liigh, 
sandy ridge, covered with an undergrowth of small 



timber, and was without i)lan or outline, having 
neither streets nor houses. A few families were scat- 
tered about on the north side of the river, while half 
a mile down the stream, on the south side, there 
were resident nearly 300 Indians, engaged in the oc- 
cu|)ations common to aboriginal inhabitants, — hunt- 
ing, fishing and raising a little Indian corn. They 
belonged to the Chippewa tribe, and were to some 
extent civilized, having a church and trading post. 
Mr. Kelly vividly remembers the jjleasing appearance 
of the locality, whicii formed a wide contrast with its 
present cxliibit. The forest foliage presented a deep 
green, most gratifying to tiie vision. The Titlabawas- 
see and Pine Rivers llowed through a belt of meadow, 
their clear waters sparkling and rippling in the sum- 
mer sun, in a channel whose banks were uniform 
and well-defined. 'i"he air re-echoed the trillings of 
forest songsters through the day, the whippoorwills 
made the nights delightful with their clear, sweet, 
plaintive melody. Now the din of business deadens 
the sweetness of the bird songs, and the whistle of 
the solitary whippoorwill is a mournful note, as if its 
author bewailed the march of progress which has 
stripped the place of its primitive beauty. The 
rivers are now sluggish, muddy streams, wiiose banks 
have been worn away and cut down by the passage 
of the logs, cut along their courses and floated to 
market through their channels. The first settlers 
had little hopes that agriculture could be suixessfully 
prosecuted, and beyond the raising of a limited 
iiuantity of potatoes and corn, farming was decidedly 
at a discount. The earliest attempts at growing grass 
and grain were practically failures; but people perse- 
vered in their efforts, and as the forests disappeared 
the soil yielded lo the efforts expended and a better 
state of things resulted. The prosecution of tiie 
lumbering interests at first was largely responsible 
for the tardy progress of agriculture, and for some 
years produce was scarce and of exorbitant price. 

In 1856, Mr. Kelly began to clear a farm not far 
from the junction of the Pine and Chippewa Rivers. 
There were neither roads nor bridges, and the passage 
of the streams was accomplished by fording. .\s it 
often became necessary to do this in the dead of the 
night, it was at times an undertaking of no common 
importance, as the stream was more frequently at 
flood height than otherwise. The feat to be accom- 
plished was to keep the nose above the water while 
the feet touched the bottom of the river bed. This 



1 



e 



( 



* 
S 






(^ 



I 



^i,: 



®)'^/^l))^r|^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-»% 



I 

t 



i 












was no trifling matter, when the darkness was of the 
Cimmerian order, thick enough to be felt. 

A long time ela|)sed before bridges were built. 
The first change was the establishment of a ferry 
across the Tittabawassee, which proved a sore aggra- 
vation when the boat was on the wrong side of the 
stream and the necessity was urgent. Physicians 
and supplies were obtainable only from Saginaw. 
The latter was brought to the settlers in boats and 
canoes, and there was generally a stock in advance 
of need ; but when the doctor was needed, a special 
journey was inevitable. On one occasion, when 
Mr. Kelly started to bring a doctor, he found the 
ferry-boat on the wrong side. He went to an old 
fording-place about <So rods below, and found the 
channel full to the top of the banks and the current 
running at a fearful rate of speed. He had an ex- 
cellent horse, and he believed he could urge the in- 
telligent beast across the channel. The animal en- 
tered the stream, but the rushing water swejjt him off 
his feet and he plunged in every direction, until horse 
and rider were near drowning. They finally landed 
where they went in, and went back to the ferry. 
Mr. Kelly removed his clothing, and tied the bundle 
to the head of his horse. He then took hold of the 
tail, and the animal plunged into the water and both 
swam across in safely! But with time, tlie tribula- 
tions of the pioneers vanished ; their efforts brought 
order and harmony out of the chaos of the natural 
condition of things, and fine farms and modern im- 
provements became the predominating condition. 

The estate of Mr. Kelly contains 250 acres, a large 
proportion of which is in a highly creditable state of 
cultivation, with excellent buildings and valuable 
farm appurtenances. He pursued lumbering in con- 
junction with his agricultural interests until 1872, 
when he came to Midland City and opened trade in 
groceries and feed. This enterprise e.xisted until 
1875, when he sold out and returned to his farm. 
In 188 1 he again established himself in commercial 
business at Midland City, in which he is still en- 
gaged. His stock represents a value of $10,000, 
and comprises dry goods and groceries. He also 
deals extensively in lumber products. 

Mr. Kelly was married Sept. 15, 1855, in Midland 
County, to Elizabeth Barton. She was born Jan. 7, 
1842, in Allegany Co., N. Y. To him and his wife 
have been born ten children, in the following order: 






William Henry, July 2, 185S (died March 16, 1871); 
Morris, Oct. 24, i860; Maggie, .A.pril 25, 1864; 
Jennie, March 16, 1866; Cora, July 2, 1870; Anna, 
Dec. 30, 1873; Willie, Nov. 30, 1875; Ladorna, 
July 2, 1878; Libbie, May 18, 1879; Dotty Dimple, 
Sept. 25, 1880. 



acob S. Bisbing, fanner, section 10, Lee 
\if Township, was born in Monroe ('o., Pa., 
Nov. 16, 1825, and was brought up there 
as a farmer. When 25 years of age he married, 
in that county, Miss Julia A. E. Smith, a na- 
tive of that State, and by this marriage have 
been ten children, named Mahlon, Emma (deceased), 
Stewart, Melchor, Ida J., Sarah E., Anna, Harriet, 
Willie and Lizzie. 

After his marriage, Mr. B. followed agriculture in 
his native county until the winter of 1867, and then 
until March, 1874, he was engaged in lumber mills 
in Saginaw Co., Mich., and then he came and home- 
steaded 80 acres where he now resides. Here he is 
improving the land, erecting buildings and putting 
the place into a desirable condition. 

Oct. 16, 1862, Mr. Bisbing enlisted in the 176th 
Pa. Vol. Inf., of the Army of the Potomac, his com- 
pany commanded by A. A. Lecheler. He served out 
his time, being neither ca[)tured nor wounded, and 
was honorably discharged. 

He is now Highway Commissioner, and in his 
political views is a Republican. 



ames J. Stanton, farmer, section 36, Mt. 
Haley I'ownship, was born Oct. 28, 1842, 
in Leeds Co., Ont. He remained a resi- 
dent of his native province until he was 22 
years old, when he went to the State of New 
'I'' York and located in the city of Oswego. After 
a stay there of four years, he returned to Leeds 
County. One year later, he removed to Port Austin, 
Huron Co., Mich., where he operated a short time as 
assistant in a saw-mill. He went thence to East 
Saginaw, where he was engaged in running logs in 
the summer seasons, and in the lumber woods win- 
ters, for three years. In the fall of 187 i he came to 




i^is- 



■^-mmm>^ — ^^^^ 





6V<^IIIl^DDi^v 



-*^^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




I 

•1 



^ 



'0 



'^ 



Midland County, where he entered a claim of 120 
acres of land, according to the regulations of the 
Homestead Act. At thai date the township of Ml. 
Haley was almost wholly in its primitive condition 
and practically unsettled. Mr. Stanton lias improved 
and placed under creditable cultivation 20 acres of 
his farm, and is making all possible haste with more 
extended improvements. 

He was married Nov. i, 1865, at Oswego, N. Y,, 
to Sarah A. Howley. She was born Nov. 14, 1843, 
in Ontario, Can., and is the daughter of Hugh and 
Catherine (Carey) Howley, also natives of the Do- 
minion of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton have nine 
children, born as follows: James H., July 12, 1866; 
Walter R., Nov. 5, 1868; Katie B,, June 25, 1870; 
John F., Feb. 5, 1S73; Nellie M., Dec. 27, 1875; 
Sarah A., Feb. 9, 1877; Mary A., March 5, 1879; 
Anthony J., March 23, 1881 ; and Lizzie B., Jan. 26, 
1884. 

Mr. Stanton is a Republican in political connec- 
tion. He has served two years in the capacity of 
Highway Commissioner, and is now fulfilling the 
duties of that position. The family are membeis of 
the Catholic Church. 




-< #^ '- 

l^amuel D. Gaskill, farmer, section 24, In- 
gersoU Township, is a son of Silas and 
Jane (Brown) (iaskill, wlio passed their 
lives in their native State, New York, she dy- 
ing in April, 1866, and he in the spring of 
1878. 
Of their eight children, the subject of this sketch 
was the second son. He was born in what is now 
Wyoming Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1826; attended the 
Wilson Collegiate Institute, in Niagara Co., N. Y. 
From the age of 21 to 24 he was clerk in a store at 
Lockport, N. Y., and for two seasons was engaged in 
stock business and in teaching scliool during the win- 
ters. In 1853 he came to Lapeer Co., Mich., and 
three years and a half afterward, in 1856, he came to 
this county, settling in Ingersoll Township, on 80 
acres, which he had taken one year previously, under 
the Graduation Act. He built a shanty and began 
to clear the ground. He afterward added to it by 
purchase 80 acres more, and of that farm he has 70 
acres in a good state of cultivation. About 1872 he 



purchased 40 acres of wild land on section 24, where 
he now resides, and in 1882 built a fine residence. 

Mr. Gaskill has held the office of Probate Judge 
12 years, has been Supervisor six years. Justice of the 
Peace one tern, besides holding the various school 
offices. Politically, he is a Republican, and in re- 
ligion he inclines to the Baptist faith. 

Judge Gaskill was married in Niagara Co., N. Y,, 
May 8, 185 1, to Maria, daughter of William and 
Julia Ramsey, and born in Essex Co., N. Y., .April 23, 
1827. Her father was a native of New York State, 
and died in Niagara Co., N, Y., Dec 25, 1856. Her 
mother was born in New Hampshire, of Scotch de- 
scent, and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskill have 
two children, — Frances L. and John L. 



E$«-^fe^E 



Stj^^j^l^enry B, Stowits, farmer, section 26 (N. E. 

J.003i. ]2 of N. E. '/{), Homer Township, was 

iiK^ born June 15, 1814, in Montgomery Co., N. Y., 

7)5; the son of Michael and Elizabeth (Bellinger) 

I Stowits. His grandfather, Philip P. Stowits, 

was a private in the patriot army during the 

Revolution, and his maternal grandsire, Frederick 

Bellinger, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the same war. 

Both fell at the battle of Oriskany, N. Y., and their 

names are now on the monument erected in memory 

of the heroes of that battle. 

The death of Mr. Stowits' father made him the 
chief support of his mother and sister, and he was 
a resident upon the home farm until 1841. In the 
spring of that year, he located in Greece, Monroe 
Co., N. Y., where he remained until the fall of 1S47, 
when he came to Michigan and bouglit 40 acres of 
land in Grand Blanc, Genesee County. He continued 
tlie management of the place until the close of 1865 ; 
Dec. 9, of that year, he came to Midland County 
and rented a farm in the township of Ingersoll. A 
year later he purchased 40 acres of land in the same 
to\vnshi[). He resided some time on the Tittaba- 
wassee River, and in 1878 he came to Homer Town- 
ship and purchased the property he now owns, which 
then included 80 acres of unimproved land. He has 
50 acres cleared and under a creditable degree of 
cultivation, and has built a stock and grain barn, 36 
by 50 feet in extent. 

When the family settled in Midland County, its 



^ 



^ 



i 

V 

*; 

V) 



f8»- 



,^ 



^Pn^nii^^H^^ — ^^ 



-#^f 




1 







^^ 










o I 





mi, 




m 



f 



■ ■>. 



) 



h 



"S 



?_ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^^^^r 



condition was so primitive that wild game, fish and 
deer were almost unlimited in abundance. The 
latter were so tame that they came to feed almost in 
the presence of the members of the family. 

Mr. Stowits is a Republican in political connection 
and has discharged the duties and trusts of the most 
important local official positions. He and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and he has been for many years connected with its 
official department. His education, habits and 
tastes fit him to do credit to any position, and he is 
an extensive and discriminating reader, ranking 
among the best informed men in the Saginaw Valley. 

Mr. Stowits was married Dec. 15, 1847, '" Gene- 
see Co , Mich., to Caroline, daughter of Johnson 
and Nancy (Parks) Huff. Her parents were natives 
of Montgomery Co., N. Y., and were of English and 
Scotch parentage. Her father died in New York, at 
the age of 50 years ; her mother's demise occurred 
in Michigan, when she was 72 years old. Mrs. 
Stowits was born July 17, 1825, in Montgomery Co., 
N. Y. She accompanied her parents to Genesee Co., 
Mich., in 1846, and remained with them until her 
marriage. Four of the nine children born of her 
marriage are deceased, — Louisa, Hiram, Francis and 
an imnamed infant. George H., Elizabeth S., Elijah 
F., Nancy K. and James H. are the names of the 
survivors. 





J!^®Killiam H. Young, farmer, section 26, In- 
llg gersoll Township, is a son of Frederick 
y.y^ and Betsey (Ketchum) Young, who were 
y natives of New York State. He was born 
"■ in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, i8ig, in 
the first frame house ever built in that county. 
He lived in his native State until the spring of 1857, 
when he came to Michigan and bought a farm in 
Oakland County, where he lived nine years. Selling 
out there, he went to Lapeer County and engaged in 
agricultural pursuits for ten years. In the spring of 
1876 he came to Midland County and purchased 80 
acres of partly improved land in Ingersoll Townsliip, 
wliere he now lives. 

Mr. Young was married in Monroe Co., N. Y., 
May 13, 1845, to Philinda Ketchum, who was born 
in that county, Jan. 4, 1826. They have had four 




children, namely: Reuben F., Clista J., Elizabeth 
P. and Mary. Clista and Mary are deceased. 

Mr. Young has been School Director for four years, 
in politics is a Republican, and is a member of the 
Baptist Church, as is also his wife. 

"l^^l eorge W. Wardell, farmer, section 29, 

i t^Ml Jerome Township, was born Aug. 4, 1839, 

1^,1^ i'' Albion, Wellington Co., Can. His par- 

^y?\nts, William and Nancy (Stooks) Wardell, are 

\ respectively of English and Canadian birth, and 

I descendants of parents who belong to the 
nationality known as Pennsylvania Dutch. They 
reside in Tuscola Co., Mich. 

Mr. Wardell found himself at liberty to construct 
his own fortunes at the age of 13 years. He served 
three years' apprenticeship in the business of cloth- 
making, and worked as a journeyman until April, 
1858, when he enlisted in the looth Prince of Wales 
Royal Canadian Regiment and was sent to England 
for military drill. The regiment was ordered to 
Gibraltar, the depot of supplies for the East Lidies 
during the Sepoy Rebellion. The mutiny was 
quelled before the command received orders to pro- 
ceed to Lidia. While the regiment was at Gibraltar 
Mr. Wardell was sent to England on recruiting 
service and operated in that capacity two years, re- 
joining his regiment in 1864. \w the summer of 1865 
the command was ordered to Malta, where it 
remained until November, 1866, when it was trans- 
ferred to Canada. Mr. Wardell enlisted for ten 
years, and on reaching Canada had one and a fourth 
years to serve. He went to Collinswood to drill the 
seventh company of the 37 th Regiment at Clarks- 
burg. He remained at that place three years and 
came thence to Oakland Co., Mich., where he re- 
mained until 1872. He bought three acres of land 
in Davisburg, Oakland County, which he sold in the 
year mentioned and went to Bay City, where he 
remained until November, 1881. At that date he 
came to Jerome township and entered a claim of 80 
acres under the Homestead Act. In February, 1882, 
he removed his family hither, and has improved 18 
acres of his land. 

While in England on recruiting service he was 
married to Miss Margaret, daughter of Thomas B. 



9 

s 



I — r 






% 



'^^^^^ 




MIDLAND COUNTY. 



(^ 



<7S 



>5 



and Margaret (Bennett) Huntley. She was born at 
Dover, Aug. 14, 1840, and was married on the Isle 
of Wight. Her parents were natives of England 
and are both deceased. Tlie record of the 14 chil- 
dj^n that have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wardell 
is as follows: Lydia Ann was born Jan. 12, 1864, at 
Parkhurst Barracks, Isle of Wight, and died Aug. 9, 
1865, at Gibraltar; Anna E. was born March 12, 
1865; Margaret A. was born March 19, 1866; Rich- 
ard was born Dec. rS, 1866. (Tlie three last named 
children were born at Malta.) Emily Jane was born 
Nov. 24, 1867; Minnie M., April 8, 1869; Beatrice 
M., April 17, 1870. (Tliese children were born in 
Canada.) Clara was born May 24, 1871; Cora 
Nancy was born June 24, 1873. (These were born 
in Oakland Co., Mich.) George W. was born Aug. 
24, 1874; Georgiana Victoria was born Aug. 14, 
1875; Ava Clement was born April 25, 1876; Ed- 
ward James was born Jan. 27, 1878; Phebe H., June 
8, 1880. These last named were born in Bay 
County. 

Mr. W'ardeU's portrait ai)pears on a preceding 
page. 

Ijjlilas W. Drew, farmer, section 12, Ingersoll 

-^ Tp., is a son of John and Nancy (Huff) 

v^.? Drew, natives of New York, who lived and 




died there. He was born.' in Cattaraugus Co. 
N. Y., Aug. 10, 1S40; when 16 years of age 
he began to work on the New York .S: Erie rail- 
road, and afterward on the Atlantic & Great Western 
railway, as track hand and section foreman, — opera- 
ting in those capacities altogether about ten years. In 
September, 1867, he came to Midland County and 
for six months was employed in a saw-mill and six 
months on a farm. He next worked at dairy farming 
a year in New York State, and in the fall of 1870 re- 
turned to this county and rented a farm for one year. 
In 1S71 he bought 20 acres of section 12, where he 
now lives, to which he has added by purchase 31 J^ 
acres from section i ; he has about 30 acres in a 
state of good cultivation. 

Mr. Drew has been School Treasurer of his district 
for two years, and takes Democratic views of national 
questions. 

He was married in Ingersoll Township, April 19, 

\mm^^^ ^^^ ~K^:tl 3 : 



1868, to Miss .\nna. daughter of Charles and Laura 
(Graves) Blodgett, who was bora in Lorain Co., Ohio, 
Oct. 20, 1849. 




-^ — *>/\A..£ 



..2^g-v> J- 



fei# 




', illiam McNeil, farmer, section 2, Porter 
Township, was born Feb. 9, 1845, in Can- 
ada West. When lie was two years old 
his parents came to Ionia Co., Mich., where 
he passed the entire period of his minority. 
He celebrated the arrival of the age of his leiial 
freedom by establishing himself in married life. He 
was married in Berlin Township, Ioni,a County, to 
Abigail McCreery. She was born March 14, 1844, 
in Kent Co., Out., and cani'i with her parents to 
Ingham County, this State, when she was four years 
old. They still reside near Lansing. 

Soon after his marriage, Mr. McNeil removed to 
Wiieeler Township, Gratiot County, wliere he jnir- 
chased 160 acres of wild hind on section 26 : here 
he resided one year. On coining to Midland County 
he settled first in Mt. Haley Township, but later pur- 
chased 160 acres of land on section 2 of Porter 
Township. It was a valuable piece of pro|)erty, 
heavily wooded with hard and soft timber. He has 
developed a fine farm, with 80 acres cleared and 
under good improvements. He is a Democrat in 
political connection, and lias held the office of Town- 
ship Treasurer seven years, Justice of the Peace 
three years. School Inspector four years, and is now 
serving as Supervisor. He has also officiated in the 
various positions connected with the school affairs of 
his district. 

The several children born tckMr. and Mrs. McN. 
are named William A., Charles A., George C, Orin 
C, Sarah A., Cora A. and Lavinia B. 



:. eil McDougall, general farmer, section 17, 

^ Jasper Township, was born near Toronto, 

Ont., Dec. 30, 1844, and when he was 

quite young the family moved to the village 

)'(> of Newfield, Cliemung Co., N. Y., afterward to 

f Bridgeport, that county. 

Feb. 25, 1862, he enhsted in the Fifth N. Y. Heavy 

Artillery, Co. C, in the Army of the Potomac, and 




I 









! 
I 




MhT^^m^^ 



r-c 



^i 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



345 









^ 



J 



/K^ 









V 



%_ 



two years afterward he was discharged for re-enlist- 
ment. Accordingly he re-enlisted, Feb. 27, 1864, 
and was in five active engagements, viz.: Piedmont, 
Lynchburg, Snicker's Gap, Winchester and Martins- 
burg, — all in Virginia. Mr. McD. escaped unhurt, 
further than exhaustion and exposure to hardships 
from over-marching. Having served over three 
years, he was honorably discharged, Jnly 19, 1865, at 
Harper's Ferry. 

After spending a short time in Chemung Co., N. 
Y., he came to Jasper Township, this county, where, 
Feb. 2r, 1866, he married Miss Anna S. Anderson. 
(Tliis was the first marriage in that township.) Mrs. 
McDougall was born in Grand Isle Co., Vt., March 
5, t85o, and when she was but three weeks old her 
father died, and when about five years old her mother 
moved with her to Clinton Co., N. Y. Sulisequently 
she returned to Vermont, and one year later to 
Steuben Co., N. Y., and finally, in 1865, to this 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Mel), have one child by 
adoption, — Sophronia S., who was born May 27, 
1878. 

Mr. McDougall owns 86 acres where he now re- 
sides, with 20 acres under good cultivation. Con- 
cerning national questions he holds Republican 
views, and in this county he has been Constable, 
Justice of the Peace, Health Officer and School In- 
spector. He is a member of the 1. O. O. F. and 
G. A. R. 



•vejeae?©^"'— §^^ 



^i^4— «/^®^3OT*v. 




5 illiam D. Gibbs, general farmer and lum- 
berman, section 18, Jasper Township, was 
,y^ born in .\ddison Co., Vt., March 22, 1859. 
V His parents, Trumans and Frances R. 
(Straight) Gibbs, were natives of the Green 
Mountain State, of New England parentage and 
of English ancestry. His father, now aged 61, is 
a farmer, residing in Greendale Township, this 
county, was the first permanent settler in that town- 
ship, and was the oii/y resident there for six tedious 
years. His wife died in that township in 1869. 

The subject of this sketch was the second son, and 
second child, in the above family, of seven children, 
and was about 1 2 years old when they emigrated to 
this county. At that time there was not so much as 
50 acres of improved land in the whole township of 



Jasper, — 6 miles by t8 in dimensions. He has since 
been engaged in farming, and up to 18S0 also in 
lumbering. About a year after marriage, he settled 
on a farm of 80 acres, where he now resides, and 
where he has erected a fine dwelling and made many 
substantial improvements upon the place. 

Mr. Gibbs is now Deputy Sheriff, and in politics is 
a Republican. 

June 9, 1S80, at Mt. Pleasant, he married Miss 
Lucy ^^, daughter of Reed and Samantha (Straight) 
Bohannon, natives of Vermont and of English de- 
scent, and now residing in Jasper Township, on a 
farm. She was l)orn in Grand Isle, Vt., Sept. 16, 
1856, and came with her parents to this State when 
2 1 years of age. There are two children in the 
family of Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs, — Carrie P., born 
Nov. 19, 1882, and Florence M., March 8, 1884. 



/j''|Cn^',aniel Weed, genenil 

n fe^al lL Lee To.vnship, was born m Chautauqua 



farmer, section iS, 
l l|. Lee To.vnshq), was 
^ USV" ^o-' ^- ^ ■■> Sept. 27, 1846, and was nine 
W*> years old when the family removed thence to 
Warren Co., Pa. Remaining at home until he 
was 26 years old, he enlisted m Co. F, 151st 
Pa. Vol. Inf., Sept. 20, 1862, which was attached to 
the Army of the Potomac. He was in the famous 
battles of Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, and was 
wounded while standing sentinel near Woodward 
Ford, Va., by being shot through the left leg with a 
musket ball and buck-shot, the latter remaining in 
the flesh. Having served his term of enlistment, he 
was discharged Aug. r3, 1863. 

Returning to Crawford Co., Pa., he followed farm- 
ing for a while, then the same vocation in Berrien 
Co., Mich., for six years; then going to Jackson Co., 
Kan., and canvassing that State for a patent right, he 
returned to Erie Co., Pa.; and one year later he 
came to this county and establislied himself on 120 
acres of unimproved land, where he now lives, 
which he took under the Homestead Law. He now 
owns 80 acres, one-half of which is finely improved. 

Mr. Weed has held tlie school offices of his dis- 
trict and that of Highway Commissioner, and in his 
political views is a Republican. 

Sept. 10, 1865, in Warren Co., Pa., Mr. Weed was 
married to Miss Jane Vanciske, a native born and 







9 

s 
^ 






n<>^ 



£^ 




■-^4?^ 




T<<m^M<> 



MIDLAND COUNTY 



) 



:<$ 



</ 



'■o 




bred in Crawford Co., Pa. She had four children, — 
Maria M., Jane, James and Martha, the latter de- 
ceased. Mrs. Weed died at her home in Crawford 
Co., Pa., about 1867, and Mr. Weed was married 
again, in 1876, in Saginaw Co., Mich., to Miss Nancy 
L. Boyce, who was born in Lapeer Co., Mich., and 
brought up in Oakland and Saginaw Counties. She 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



flkii^ff oring S. Winslow, deceased, was a farmer 
on section 35, IngersoU Township. His 
"^ parents, Joseph and Anna (Curtis) Winslow, 
were natives of New York State. He was 
born in the same State, March 12, 1S07, and 
early in life learned the blacksmith trade, of 
his uncle, in ]3arnard, Vt. He also was engaged in 
stone-cutting some years. At the age ot 21 he mar- 
ried Joanna Richmond, who died two years and a 
half afterward. After five years of widowerhood he 
married Mary, daughter of Josiah and Submit (Per- 
ham) Brown, natives of New England. She was 
born in Goshen, Vt., May 21, 18 17, and became the 
mother of seven sons, namely: Joseph J., Charles 
H., Loring S., Curtis J., John E., Willie G. and 
Frank P. 

In the fall of 1867 Mr. Winslow came to Midland 
County, and settled upon 200 acres of land, which 
he had '' taken up " several years previously. Here 
he remained until his death, which occurred March 
26, 1876. In connection with his other business, he 
also practiced medicine for some time. He also 
held the office of Justice of the Peace in IngersoU 
Township. He took an active part in iiolilical affairs, 
being identified with the Democratic party. 



|fl|iroseph Lain is a farmer on section 2, Inger- 

J^yjJ,, - sollTownship. His parents, Archibald and 

'' ■' '^ Mary (Camj)) Lain, are natives of England, 





tR where they still live. Joseph is the eldest of 
iL the children, was born in England Aug. 15, 
1827, and by the time he was 22 years of age 
he had put in five years of time "before the mast" 
as a sailor, part of this time as " mate." At the age 
mentioned he came to America, and in t852 to Mid- 



land County, first purchasing 40 acres of Government ^If 
land. For the first ten years he spent the summer ', 
seasons on the lakes, and the winters in clearing his 4'* 
land and catting wood. He has since added another t 
40 acres to his possessions, and of the total he now . ^ 
has 60 acres in a good state of cultivation, with fine 
buildings. On national questions he is independent. 
Mr. Lain was married in Midland City, June 10, 
1865, to Clara, daughter of Henry and Mary Ran- 
dall, who were natives of Canada. Mrs. Lain was 
also born in that dominion. May 13, 1849. Of the six 
children born in this family, one died in infancy, and 
the five living are, Willard A., C'ora E., Emma A., 
Bertha E. and Laura. 







orton W. Ellsworth, farmer, section 24, 
1]^ Jerome Township, and clerk with Wells, (V] 
X Stone iV Co., at Sanford, was born April ^ 
15, 1841, in Genesee Co., Mich. He is a son /^ 
of Arthur L. and Caroline E. (Chapin) Ells- i=t 
worth. His father died in Saginaw m 1S74. Aa.' 
His mother resides in Memphis, Macomb Co., Mich. ^ 

When Mr. Ellsworth was 12 years old he went to 
Flint, Mich., whither his parents removed and settled 
on a farm. He attended the High School at Flint for 
some time, and when the mining excitement at Pike's 
Peak arose, he went there and engaged in gulch min- 
ing. He operated with the varying fortunes common 
to the majority of miners, sometimes with success, 
sometimes otherwise. When the civil war broke out 
he became a soldier, enlisting Dec. 23, 1862, in Co. 
G, Second Col. Vol. Cav., and was mustered out of 
service in September, 1865. His regiment was chieflv 
engaged in the frontier service. One of its first 
operations was in fighting General Price in .South- 
western Missouri, and during the period of enlist- 
ment it was engaged in numberless Indian skir- 
mishes. On leaving the military service of the United 
States, he returned to Michigan and engaged as sales- 
man with the grocery and jsrovision house of Mosher 
& Mickley, of East Saginaw, where he remained three 
years. At the expiration of that time he and his 
brother went to Watrousville, Tuscola Co., Mich., 
where they established mercantile relations, wiiich 
existed until the fires of 1880 and 1881 forced the 
firm to suspend. Mr. Ellswoith returned to East 



r^ 



<mmw^> 



^-iu;i- 








C3^^ o^/^^.:^^ 



V 




c*?- ^yia^in^^L.^ 



!-^^a^ 




^^^ 



&S8K- 



T? 



vc^DO^nn^^' 



■r 



-est 



•3^ 



9 






>:! 



^ 



'D 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



Saginaw and engaged as clerk with H. N. Doty in the 
grocery business, in whose employment he remained 
three years. He then rented a farm near East Sagi- 
naw, on which he lived one year, when he entered 
upon his present employment, and is now general 
manager of the mercantile business of the firm at 
Sanford. He is a Republican, and has served as a 
member of the School Board. 

He was married Dec. 5, 1867, at East Saginaw, to 
Roselle, daughter of Ira and Roxana (Clark) Mason. 
Her parents were natives of the State of New York, 
and died in Wayne Co., Mich. One son and two 
daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kllsworth, 
as follows: May R., Aug. 24, 1868; Ida M., Jan. 
24, 1873; Ray N., Jan. 31, 1884. The two elder 
children were born at East Sairinaw. 



-IG 



^ A 
T^^ 



>^ I 



€>- 




ohn Larkin, senior member of the firm of 

% Larkin OS: Patrick, manufacturers and deal- 

,-->'-'?' ^jyg j,-^ lumber, shingles and salt, resident at 

Midland, was born in Phelps, Ontario Co., N. 
iT ^1 Oct. 10, 1826. He is the son of Bradford 

and Martha (Ellsworth) Larkin. His father 
was a farmer and passed his life in the pursuit of 
that vocation. He died at Midland, Aug. 11, 1870. 
The mother is still living, in Midland. 

The building of the Erie ("anal in tlie near vicinity 
of his home was a momentous event at the time when 
Mr. Larkin was receiving his impressions of the 
march of progress in the world, and at the age of 15 
years he left home to engage in the service of the 
canal. He passed through the various grades of as- 
sistants, and at the age of 20 was captain of a pass- 
enger line boat plying between Buffalo and the city 
of New York. When raihoads superseded transport- 
ation by canal, Mr. Larkin decided on a wider field 
of operation, and, in the spring of 1850, came to 
Saginaw City to take a prospective view of l)usiness. 
Finding that the outlook met his views, he removed 
there in the fall of i85r. One of the motives which 
incited him to investigate the probaliilities of this 
section of Michigan were the fabulous accounts of 
the profits accruing to hunters and trappers, who plied 
their craft in the woods of the counties now consti- 
tuting the lumber region of the Peninsular State. 
During the winter ensuing his arrival in Saginaw 





K®)5«§^ 



jLi- 



County, Mr. Larkin spent some time in hunting, up 
the Tittabawassee River. He was thoroughly equip- 
ped for the work, having brought with him a com- 
plete outfit of dogs and hunting paraphernalia. His 
home for about a year was at a point below " Free- 
land's, "eight miles above Saginaw, and Dec. 7, 1852, 
he and Mrs. Larkin removed to the "Bluff's," a point 
on the river three miles from Midland, where they 
remained about si.\ weeks. In January they came 
to the jiresent site of Midland. Mr. Larkin cleared 
a small piece of ground, now occupied by the pail, 
tLibe and hoop factory and residence of Mr. Peters, 
built a log house, the first structure in the place, 
and entered it Jan. 14, 1853. It was simply laid up 
and chinked ; and V'ankee ingenuity and providence 
devised ways and means to make it comfortable. 
Mr. and Mrs. Larkin are, par excellence, the repre- 
sentative pioneers of Midland City and a tract of 
surrounding country several miles in extent. They 
were the sole individuals "this side " the river, and, 
at intervals, months would elapse in which Mrs. 
Larkin did not see the face of a white woman. All 
the society she had were Charles H. Rood and his 
daughter, half-breed Indians. Wild animals were 
abundant but not troublesome. The same fact was 
true of the Indians — plentiful and harmless, save 
when intoxicated, when they were a source of dread. 
The Indians were all located across the river because 
of the tietter quality of the land. But one individual 
among them inhabited a log cabin: the remainder 
lived in bark shanties. When Government deeded to 
each of them five acres of land they advanced some- 
what in civilization, but a few years later, by another 
of the wise regulations which have distinguished the 
American Government in its operations with the 
noble red men, they were removed to Isabella 
County. The family occujiied the log house three 
years, living in true pioneer style, entertaining lum- 
Ijermen and land-lookers, and sharing with all comers 
their supplies of the necessities of life. The cabin 
in the woods was frequently filled to overflowing with 
temporary sojourners, and often the family resigned 
the last lied and divided the domestic sup[)lies, even 
to depriving themselves of couch or coverings to 
render comfortable for a night those who, on the 
following day, would pass on to encounter sharper 
privations and hardships. Mr. Larkin Ijought 52 
acres of land where his house was built. He had 
cherished from the first the purpose of obtaining a 

<^n!!v^tiii;i>A^ — ^'^ ^ 






% 





^^^ 



w^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



4^^c(®vii 



s5^ 



(b 



) 






tract of 62 acres where his present residence is lo- 
cated and which constitutes tlie main portion of what 
is now Midland City. It was owned by the Ameri- 
can Fur Company, and he was unable for a long time 
to obtain a clue to either owner or title, and he only 
became its actual possessor by repeatedly purchas- 
ing the so-called titles of the respective claimants, 
whether fraudulent or otherwise. In 1S58 Mr. 
Larkin built a steamboat called the Midland City, to 
ply between the place for which it was named and 
Saginaw. Not long afterward he bought the "Belle 
Seymore, '" for the same purpose. Both boats were of 
light l)urtlien and were used for purposes commen- 
surate with their construction and capacities, some- 
times being employed as tugs for laden boats on the 
river. When the country became the field of opera- 
tion for the extensive lumber interests which have 
been pjosecuted since its resources in that direction 
have been understood, these steamboats, as river 
craft, fell into disuse, the booms and saw logs mo- 
nopolizing the stream to the exclusion of all other 
ventures, and the channel being practically ruined 
through the same means. In 1855 he erected a frame 
building on block 11, where is now the Reardon 
Block, where he established himself as a landlord. 
This was really the first building worthy the name 
in Midland City. In the changes which have suc- 
ceeded each other in the place, all traces of this 
building have become obliterated. Within the first 
year of their life in the new hotel all the voters of 
Midland County, — seventeen in number, were there 
at dinner on the occasion of a county election. The 
hotel business was prosecuted six years, when, in 
i860, Mr. and Mrs. Larkin became a part of the 
general community which had grown up about them 
and, so to speak, through their instrumentality, to a 
considerable extent. The second building in the 
jilace was erected by L. P. Bailey, to whom Mr. 
Larkin gave a lot on the condition that he should 
build a store thereon, which was fulfilled, the build- 
ing serving the two-fold purposes of residence and 
place of business. The houses of Dr. Jennings, 
John McLean, Harvey Lyon, Daniel Wilson and 
George Turner were built next in order, after which 
the construction of residences and influx of popula- 
tion at Midland City became general. In the winter 
of 1853 Mr. Larkin engaged in lumbering in com- 
pany with E. G. Buttles, his brother-in-law. The 
same fall he bought So acres additional of [line land 



in the county. He had previously purchased 52 
acres, now lying in the southeast portion of the vil- 
lage of Midland. He afterward made considerable 
purchases of land now included in Midland. The 
platting of the village was nearly all accom[)lished 
under his management. He continued one year in 
company with his brother-in-law. In 185S he, in 
company with Philo Sumner, built a saw-mill on the 
site now occupied by the mill where he is operating, 
which he afterwards took down and replaced by one 
on a larger scale. This was burned in the fall of 
1874, with a loss of $40,000, partly reimbursed by an 
insurance of $17,000. He at once rebuilt and put 
his works in first-class running order. In 1877 he 
formed an association with William Patrick, under 
the firm style of Larkin & Patrick. In 1878 they 
erected extensive salt works and sunk two wells, 
which have yielded incessantly 150 barrels daily. 
They have a considerable export and local trade and 
ship their products West. Their working force in 
the lumber works include about 80 men, besides be- 
tween 30 and 40 in the woods, and they manufacture 
all varieties of lumber products. They also conduct 
a retail lumber yard. The firm of Larkin & Patrick 
own about 6,000 acres of timber land in Clare 
County, besides extensive tracts of farn-\ing land. In 
1S64 Mr. Larkin erected his residence, which was, 
at the time of its construction, probably the best in 
the county. 

When Mr. Larkin became a resident of Midland 
County, it included about 20 voters. It was organ- 
ized in 1S55, and he was a prominent factor in the 
arrangement of its municip.al aff;rirs. In 1856 he 
was elected County Treasurer and was successively 
re-elected lo terms to the same position. He served 
as Supervisor in 1883. He was married in August, 
1847, in Lyons, Wayne Co. N. Y., to .Amanda But- 
tles, born Feb. 14, 1829, in Phelps, Ontario Co., N. 
Y., daughter of Isaac and Ariett Buttles. Of the 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Larkin two children — 
Lewis and Eugene — have been born, both of whom 
died in early infancy. They have three adopted 
daughters. The two eldest are sisters. Mary is the 
wife of B. Y . Bradley, merchant at Midland. Eliza- 
beth married Samuel Foster, a merchant at Midland. 
Nellie is aged 14 years. 

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Larkin may be 
found on other pages. They are those of pioneers, 
pure and simple. The East, from which they came 



e 



< 
A 



c^: 



( 




<^[l!l^nili-^A:© ^^^f^ 




I 



!^ti^ 



i2C5:. 



■ry 



v<^iia^niii>r 



T 



i 



^) 



1 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



353 



when life was in its full flush of hope and ambition, 
seemed to narrow in its possibilities for all they de- 
sired to achieve. With cheerful heroism they sought 
a satisfactory field for their life work; they formed 
the nucleus of the incoming population of Midland 
City, and they still sustain thai relation to its com- 
munity. They have aided and encouraged the ad- 
vancement and progress of Midland City and County 
and lent substantial countenance to all projects cal- 
culated to enhance the best interests of the place 
and people. 



i^W;|3harles Cronkright, farmer and lumber- 
pw-a^ man, resident on section 22, Homer Town- 
^ ship, was born June 11, 1837, in Genesee 
:? Co., N. Y. His parents located in Midland 
Co., Mich., when he was five months old. 
Theirs was one of the first families that made a 
settlement in the county. They afterward removed 
to Saginaw County, where the father was killed, at 
Vestaburg, by the explosion of a saw-mill steam 
boiler, a fragment of which passed through the house 
where he was sleeping, killing him instantly. The 
mother died in Midland County, in July, 1866. 

When the family came to Midland, the " staple 
product" of this section was Indians. The children 
had only Indians for playmates and companions, and 
they readily acquired the Indian language, which 
they still retain. Wild game was plentiful and 
served for food. Trapping wolves was easy and 
fascinating sport, as they were a great annoyance in 
carrying off pigs and other domestic animals. Deer 
were to be found in considerable herds, and bears 
were frequent visitors to the clearings. The family 
grew up in the woods under circumstances which 
required all their efforts to make a living, with little 
to incite them toward obtaining an education, which 
was then difficult to secure. 

At the age of 22 Mr. Cronkright entered a claim 
of 120 acres of land in Bethany Township, Gratiot 
County, but never took possession of it for a resi- 
dence. After making some improvements, he ex- 
changed the property for 123 acres on section 22 in 
Homer Township. On this he has since resided and 
has improved about 20 acres. He has sold a con- 
siderable portion and only retains 40 acres of his 



original purchase. He has been occupied in real- 
estate traffic and has engaged extensively in lumber- 
ing. One season he put in upwards of a million 
feet of logs. Mr. Cronkright is independent in 
political opinion, and has officiated in all the more 
prominent local offices in his township. 

He was married Oct. 12, 1862, in Homer Town- 
ship, to Mrs. Catherine Starks, widow of George 
Starks. She was born Sept. 16, 1S36, in Genesee 
Co., N. Y., and came to Midland County before the 
death of her first husband, by whom she became the 
mother of five children. Four are living and married, 
and are residents of Homer Township. Their names 
are George, Martha, Ennna J. and Hiram. The five 
children born of her second marriage are Lydia L., 
Charles E., Ida, Catherine and Frederick. The 
eldest of these is married and lives in this township. 




"-JfcdCC/iSiS^— fe; 



„^^%il^3TSi-^ 




^^ ^7^^Il!l?.|lt]f^ 



.^Jjlamuel Turner, general farmer, section 19, 
-^Sv Jasper Township, was born in Rensselaer 
P"^ Co., N. Y., April 25, 1816, and remained 
\\^ with his parents until their death, in that 
county. He was married, in his native county, 
June 6, 1849, to Miss Grace McLaughlin, who 
was born in Washington Co., N. Y., March 16, 1827, 
of Scotch parentage. 

A year after their marriage they moved to Jeffer- 
son, Co., Wis., where he followed farming for 14 years ; 
then they resided a year in Lapeer Co., Mich., and 
in January, 1865, they settled at their present place, 
being pioneers in that part of the county. To his 
original purchase of 80 acres, he subsequently added 
100 acres, which he has since divided between his 
two sons. These lands were obtained from the State, 
under the Swamp Land laws, which required five 
years' residence before giving » deed. Mr. Turner 
has improved about 25 of the 80 acres which he now 
owns. Much of the land in this vicinity is low and 
swampy, and Mr. T. has had to encounter an un- 
usual number of hardships as a pioneer. Sometimes 
the water covered the ground in places from one to 
two feet deep. 

Mr. and Mrs. Turner are the parents of three chil- 
dren, namely: Robert A., born Sept. 11, 1851 ; Dan- 
iel, Jan. 29, 1854; and Mary A., Oct. 28, 1857. The 



{ 



< 

V) 



^ 





^DIl^IiO^> 



354 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




V^ parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
ChLirch. Mr. T. has held the office of Township 

.'^^ Clerk, Justice of the Peace two years and Township 
Treasurer two years. On national issues he votes 
the Democratic ticket. 



— ? /WA,; 



I'i 1 "J l^j, ohn McCormick, farmer and lumberman, 
, '^\'!'| resident on section 17, Porter Township, 
"'^) '•'■■' was born about the year 1S30 in Dublin, 
Ireland. At the ai,'e of seven years he began 
a seafaring life, under the guidance of an uncle 
who was a sailor, and siteiit seven years ac- 
quiring a thorough knowledge of nautical affairs. At 
the end of that time he returned to his home, and 
soon alterward shi]jped as a seaman on a whaling- 
ship. His cruises continued three years, and he 
■( ) experienced numberless hairbreadth escapes and ro- 
"^ ^ mantic adventures in the waters of the Northern and 
/^ Atlantic Oceans. He next came to Boston and sailed 
■a on a fishing vessel to Nova Scotia and the Bay of 
vi Fundy, which occuiiied his time for one year. The 
1=3 ne,\t year he went to the West Indies, stop[)ing at 
■^ Kingston, on the island of Jamaica. His vessel en- 
jT countered slii[nvreck while returning to Halifax and 
every soul on board was lost but two, — Mr. McCor-. 
mick and a man named Cota! They clung to the 
wreck and jjassed eight days without food or drink, 
and only retained life by chewing bits of a greasy 
moccasin which came by chance within their reach! 
They were rescued by an American vessel and 
brought to Boston, Mass. The ship proceeded to 
New York and sailed thence to the coast of South 
America, finally arriving at New Orleans, where the 
crew was discharged, and Mr. McCormick received 
$1,800 in gold for his services. He came to Chicago, 
where he entered the lake service and continued thus 
occupied until his marriage, Aug. 11, i860, to Mary 
Benson. She was born Nov. 17, 1832, in Saginaw 
Co., Mich. 



) 



V^* After marriage Mr. McCormick located near the 
1 village of Midland, and in the fall of 1865 became 
'" the first settler in the part of Porter Township where 
he now resides. He bought 100 acres of land, of 

^[^ which he has improved 50 acres; and his place affords 



neer life, wild game abundant and wolves more 
numerous than welcome, their starved condition and 
rapacity making it necessary to continue to keep 
large fires burning through the night to protect the 
young stock on the farm. The story is one oft-re- 
peated, but loses none of its vividness of reality by 
repetition. 

Mr. McCormick is a Democrat in jjolitical views 
and connections, and has served several terms as 
Township Treasurer. The family attend the Metlio- 
dist Episcopal Church. 

Following are the names of 15 children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. McCormick: Frank, Charles, Ellen, 
Thomas, John, Mary A., Flora, Emily, William, An- 
drew, Charles, Alif, Patrick, Peter and Alexander. 
The five last named are deceased. 









^lt®ft]lan R. McMillan, farmer, section 14, Iiiger- 

iii iw ■ 1 1^ ^'^" Township, is a son of Hugh and Jean- 

SJI-iy nette (Cameron) McMillan, who were natives 

S of the county of Glengary, Out., and changed 

'r their residence to the county of Ottawa, same 

dominion, wliere they passed the remainder of 

of their lives. 

He, too, was born in the county of Clengary, Sept. 
30, 1832, and lived in Canada until 1870, following 
an agricultural life. He then came with his family 
to Midland County and bought 40 acres of unim- 
proved land in Ingersoll Township, to whicli he has 
since added about 53 acres, and has now altout 55 
acres in a good tillable condition. In 1882 he built 
a fine residence. 

Mr. McMillan is now serving his fourth term as 
Township Supervisor, has been Township Treasurer 
three terms. School Inspector two terms, and has held 
the other school offices in his district. In politics he 
sympathizes with the "National" party. He and his 
wife are members of the Catholic Church. 

He was married in the county of Ottawa, Ont., 
April 14, 1859,10 Margaret, daughter of Jolin R. and 
Catherine (McPhee) Cameron, who were also natives 
of the Dominion. She was born in the county of 
Glengary, in February, T837. Mr. and Mrs. McM 



((*; the strongest possible contrast to the early days, 

^^ when he was surrounded with all the features of pio- are the parents of 1 2 children, eight of whom survive. 



\^ 



1 



V 

V) 



k^is^ 





S))^#^ 



»v- — crv^^O U^; M^^P-v 



-;^^^i^Kr 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



<h 



(o 



i 




^ viz.: HukIi, Jane A., Catherine, Mary A., Margaret, 
^^ Allan, John and Ida E. The last mentioned mar- 
5^^ ried Michael \V. Ryan, and died April 3, 1S80, leaving 
one child, Sarah A. The other deceased are John 
O., John A. and Florence I. They are also the foster 
parents of Sarah A. Ryan, bringing her up as one of 
their own children. 



•jharles Oscar, proprietor of the Oscar 
House at Midland, was born Oct. 15, 
1 84 1, in Somerset Co., Maine. He is the son 
pis' of William and Jane (Drummond) Oscar, and 
(K was reared on a farm, attending school winters. 
At the age of 16 he went to Lowell, Mass., 
and engaged in a cotton factory, where he was em- 
ployed in the position usually assigned beginners. 
,'' ) He gradually advanced to the place known in cloth- 
^ manufacturing establishments as " second liand." On 
<^ leaving the mill, he learned the barber's art and fol- 
^ lowed it as a business several years. When he was 
?^ 23 years old he returned to Maine and again tried 
= farming, but found it distasteful. Two years later, 
;^ in the fall of 1868, he came to Midland and opened 
a barber shop. After continuing its management 
about two weeks, he opened a billiard room, which 
he conducted some time and engaged in the business 
of a wholesale and retail liquor dealer, in which trade 
he was interested about a year, when he sold out. 
He was elected Marshal of the village, and filled the 
position about six months. In the fall of 1874 he 
was elected Sheriff of the county on the Republican 
ticket by a majority of 150 votes. He was re-elected 
two years later, with a majority of more than 900 
votes. In 1878 he went to Chicago, and soon after- 
ward received a serious injury by jumping from a 
carriage while the team was running away. He 
broke his left leg, and before it was fully healed, he 
contracted typhoid fever, from which he barely re- 
covered. Five physicians pronounced his case hope- 
less, and his burial outfit was provided. 

But he recovered and returned to Midland, where 
he purchased the grocery stock of A. Bacon. He 
conducted its afifa'rs a few months and ne.xt found 
employment in a billiard room, where he remained a 
few months, after which he leased the " Findlater 
House " for two years. During the time he built the 




hotel which he is now managing. The building is of 
brick, two stories high, 60 by 100 feet in size, with 
accommodations for 50 guests. The establishment is 
fitted with all modern appliances for the accommoda- 
tion and comfort of its patrons. A fine brick barn, 
40 by 60 feet in dimensions, two stories above the 
basement, is located in the rear of the hotel. Mr. 
Oscar owns 40 acres of farming land in Ingersoll 
Township. He is a member of the Order of Odd 
Fellows, and has held all the subordinate and camp 
offices. He belongs also to the Order of Patrons of 
Husbandry. 

Mr. Oscar has been twice married, and has two 
sons — Charlie J. and Earl. 



'^ijEv"^ «ej 




■f'^Cflcohn W. H. Brooks, farmer, section 12, 
, ■'^'\ ' Jerome Township, was born Oct. 3, 181 1. 
|j&''~ ^ As he was deprived early of the care of his 
mff^ parents, he is uncertain as to his birth-place, 
but believes he was born on the sea. His 
earliest years were spent in the care of a man 
named John Patterson, near New Castle, Delaware, 
but being cruelly treated by him he ran away, intend- 
ing to make his way to the city of Philadelphia. He 
supplied himself against possible want by laying in 
a stock of johnny-cake and molasses, stopping nights 
in stables. On reaching the city of his destination, 
he made the acquaintance of some boys whose 
fathers were machinists, and through their instru- 
mentality he obtained employment in a machine 
shop and learned his trade. He went to a school in 
Plymouth, Montgomery Co., Pa., taught by Allen 
Carson. He remained in the Quaker City and in 
other Eastern cities until he was about 25 years old, 
when he went to sea. The line of navigation with 
which he was connected combined the coasting trade, 
wrecking and fishing. 

When the issues between the United States and 
Mexico came up for adjustment and war was deter- 
mined upon, Mr. Brooks enlisted in the regular army, 
enrolling at ('arlisle Barracks, Pa., in the Second 
U. S. Cav., in the company of the (afterward) cele- 
brated Captain May. He was in the famous cavalry 
charge at Palo Alto and received a severe sabre cut 
in the left temple. He was a participant in the 
battle of Monterey, and was present at the capitula- 



v© 













^ 





356 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






% 

• >. 

i 



^ 



^) 



i 

'A) 
.^9 




tion of the city of Mexico. In 1S49 he went to 
Japan with the expedition under Commodore Perry 
to negotiate the terras of the treaty between that 
country and the United States, and was on the "St. 
Lawrence," which bore the dispatches to the United 
States squadron. This enterprise terminated in 1 85 2, 
and Mr. Brooks went in 1854 on the Walker expedi- 
tion, proceeding to Central America in the famous 
"Star of the West," commanded by Admiral Holling- 
broke. He was present at the bombardment of 
Graytown. His next engagement was as engineer on 
the "General Rust," a steamer connected with the 
mail service at Galveston, Texas. 

When the civil war broke out Mr. Brooks re- 
sponded to the first call for troops, and enlisted at 
Norristown, Montgomery Co., Pa., in Co. A, Fourth 
Pa. Vol. Inf, Col. Hartranft, enlisting for three 
months, under Capt. W. Bolton. He was wounded 
in the contest with the celebrated Black Horse Cav- 
alry at Fairfax Cross-Roads, below the right knee, by 
a minie ball. He came home and spent some time 
and a considerable sum of money in endeavoring to 
raise a company for the service, but the enterprise 
was successful only in the loss of his investments. 
He returned to Pennsylvania and enlisted in Co. E, 
in the 2d Pa. Vol. Cav., under Col. B. R. Price, of 
Philadelphia, going out as First Sergeant. The regi- 
ment was assigned to the command of Col. Buford. 
At the second battle of Bull Run, Mr. Brooks re- 
ceived a wound above the ankle of the left leg, and 
was discharged Oct. 27, 1862, at Howard Hospital, 
Washington. Sept. 7, 1863, he again enlisted, in 
Co. H, 2Sih Pa. Vol. Inf, better known as "Geary's 
Old Regiment." He was wounded May 18,1864, at 
Buzzard's Roost, receiving an injury in his left side 
from a piece of a shell, and a wound on the left 
ankle, which left the foot completely paralyzed. He 
was also wounded in the right thigh by a gunshot. 
He was in the hospital about a month after his regi- 
ment was discharged, and was mustered out of the 
military service of the United States Jnly 18, 1865. 
He carries in his body three bullets as credentials of 
his bravery in action. 

Mr. Brooks made his first acquaintance with the 
State of Michigan in 1858, and passed two years at 
Detroit. On his return from the war he went to 
Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1S69, when 
he came to Saginaw and resided about a year. In 




1870 he came to Jerome Township and entered a 
soldier's homestead claim of 160 acres. 

Mr. Brooks was married Oct. 20, 1858, in Wilming- 
ton, Del., to Mary, daughter of Andrew and Mar- 
garet (Stewart) McClelland. Her parents were of 
Scotch nativity and are dead. Following is the rec- 
ord of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks: 
Mary Jane, born July 9, 1861, died Dec. 13, 1882; 
Andrew John, born June 8, 1862, died the same day. 
Willie J. was born Dec. 12, 1863; Margaret A. was 
born Dec. 12, 1S66 ; Alfred Henry was born Oct. 9, 
1S69, and died the same day; Samuel Kosciusko 
was born March 8, 1870, and was the first child born 
at the Grand Army Post at Norristown, Pa. 

Mr. Brooks is a Republican in political affiliation, 
and has served three terms as Justice of the Peace, 
has been School Inspector and Township Clerk three 
times, and in 1873 was appointed Notary Public, the 
duties of which position he is still discharging. 



^|&* ratten A. Visger, farmer on section 7, Lar- 
iJlSJl '^i^'' Township, is a son of Jacob and Elea- 
-flKg-'"^ nor (Baubier) Visger, natives of the State 
^'x' of New York, who came to this county in No- 
vember, 1865, and settled in Averill. They 
now reside in Larkin Township. Mr. Visger 
owns 120 acres, of which 30 are improved. 

The subject of this notice, the second son, was born 
in Jefferson Co., N. Y., July 2, 1858, received a good 
common-school education, and lived at home until 
18 years old. He then bought 97 acres of wild land 
in Larkin Township, where he now lives, with 18 
acres improved. 



"^^^k^i^V 



=*H^»^ 



■ IT:.: , 



blO* 



ohn Maxell, farmer on section 14, Hope 
Township, was born in Pittsburg Township, 
•" Can., March 3, 1844, the son of William 
and Alice (Lavery) Maxell, natives of Ireland. 
TP Mr. M., senior, is now living in Hope Town- 
ship. His wife died in the same township, in 
October, 1878. 

Their son John came to Midland County in April, 
1873, and bought 40 acres of wild land in Hope 
Township. He has sine? sold ten acres to his brother 



V^ 



(') 



ca: 



( 



t 






g^i^l- 



;^ ||t|;-^JU^ ^^^^ 



•-^^ 




m 






I 



\ 









V 



<^ 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



3S7 




William E., and of the remainder he has improved 
20 acres. 

May 24, 1867, was the date of his marriage to Miss 
Martha Jane Lawrence, daughter of Henry and Eliz- 
abeth (Parsley) Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. L. died 
when Martha was a child, the former in Canada, the 
latter in Ireland; Mrs. M. was born in Ireland, in 
1844, and came to this country with her father when 
four years old. 

Mr. and Mrs. Maxell have seven children living, 
and four dead: Margaret A., born March 17, 1S6S, 
in Galway, Can.; Wm. Noble, Oct. 23, 1869, in same 
place; Susan, June 6, 1870, in same place; Mary A., 
June 22, 1871; Robert and Anthony (twins) April 3, 
1872, and died three days later; Jane Elizabeth, 
May 16, 1873; Robert Henry, Feb. 27, 1876; Alice 
Susan, June 4, 1878; Leonora Victoria, May 24, 
1880; and John L., May 17, 1S82. 

Mr. M. is a Republican, and has been a school 
officer for seven years. He and wife are members of 
the Christian Church. 



l^ilas W. Lines, farmer on sec. 25, Larkin 
Tp., is a son' of Elijah and Olive (Whee- 
||\5i' lock) Lines, natives of Vermont and Con- 
necticut, and was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Dec. 
30, 1845. His parents removing to this State 
three years later, he was reared and educated 
in Oakland County. 

In 1864 he enlisted in the Fifth Mich. Vol. Cav., 
and served six months, when he was discharged on 
account of disability. Returning to his home in 
Oakland County, he afterwards enlisted in the Third 
Mich. Vol. Cav., in which organization he served 
until March, 1866. After his return from the army 
he removed to Genesee County, which was his home 
until the spring of 1S77. At that date he came to 
Midland County and purchased 40 acres in Larkin 
Township, where he has since lived, with the excep- 
tion of about two years in the city of Flint. Aug. 20, 
1869, in Genesee County, he celebrated his nuptials 
with Miss Nellie R. Cody, a native of the State of 
Ohio. She was born Aug. 7, 1849, in Huron County, 
that State. Of three children born, only Silas A. 



He 



survives, as the two remaining died in infancy 
was born August 6, 187 i. 

Mr. Lines is a member of the Republican party. 
He has been at different times Township Clerk, 
School Director and Overseer of Highways. 



•"ssiSiSM^r^'-M^ 



(/^nS'ZOT^ 



-*3= 



T~T^ 



7 7 



£>- 




ohn Schearer, farmer on section 22, hope 
Ji^^ll' Township, was born June n, 1843, in 
1^^ Liberty Township, Fairfield Co., Ohio, the 
son of Felix and .\nna (Magley) Schearer, and 
is the sixth of a family of eight, all living. The 
father was born in September, i8ri,in Switzer- 
land, and the mother is also a native of that country. 
Both are of German descent. The subject of this 
sketch emigrated to Ohio when 16 years old, with his 
father and grandfather, and he lived at home until 
24 years old, working his father's farm on shares 
during the three years after he attained his majority. 
He then came to this county, and, after working 



^ 



^F®iC eorge Brown, farmer, section -i,^, IngersoU 
ii i^JliC Township, is a son of Aaron and Submit 
" "^ (Howe) Brown, natives of New Hampshire. 
' ^^ He was born in the town of Westmoreland, 
N. H., June 6, 1797, and was ii years old 
when he went to Montgomery Co., N. Y. He 
lived in different parts of the State until he came to 
Michigan in the fall of 1S60, when he bought 80 
acres of land in Saginaw County. After living there 
a year he exchanged the place for 40 acres in Inger- 
soU Township, on which he setUed and where he 
has since lived. The entire "40 " is under cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr. Brown was married in Monroe Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 29, 1824, to Julia Stebbins, who was born in 
Sherborn, Conn., Dec. 16, 1808. Of their seven 
daughters and two sons, eight grew up to years of 
maturity. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are pioneers of IngersoU 
Township and Midland County, and are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. B. is a Re- 
publican in his political views. 









^ 



-«s^i 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-,^^ 4^^^(®^'•<^ 




y> three years in John Larkin's mill, homesteaded 80 
/^ acres on section 22, township 16 north, 2 east. Here 
rl he lived five years ; but after receiving his patent he 
'% bought 60 acres on section 22 of the tov/nship west 
J of that, in order to live near other people, his first 
"- -^ selection being several miles from a settlement. 

He was married Oct. 14, 1869, to Miss Sarah 

Freidiger, daughter of John N. and Lizzie Freidiger. 

She was born Dec. 24, 1843, in Licking Co., Ohio, 

where her parents yet reside. She has four brothers 

and sisters living. 

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. S., 

in Midland Township: Katie S., Feb. 14, 1S71; 

and Willie C, March 27, 1874. Mr. S. has been 

Township Treasurer two years, and is in political 

faith a Republican. 



^^^lenry P. Linton, editor of -the Coleman 
Advocate, first saw the light of day at Co- 
lumbus, Bartholomew Co., Ind., on the 27th 
day of July, 1847. His father was a successful 

i physician of that place, where he and his wife 

I are still living, al a ripe old age. 
Mr. Linton was educated in the common schools 
of that town and studied the higher branches under 
the tutelage of a Presbyterian minister. Being of a 
disposition that sought to be posted in the general 
news of the day, he spent most of his spare moments 
about the newspaper offices of his native town, and 
thus attained a fondness for the fascinatin g " art 
preservative." At the early age of 11 years he began 
setting type in the office of the Columbus Democrat, 
of which I. C. Dillie was editor. In this office Mr. 
Linton worked between school hours for about three 
years, or until the breaking out of the war, when the 
office was closed that aU hands might enlist in the 
defense of their country. For the next two years the 
suljject of our sketch attended school, but early in 
1863, when scarcely 16 years old, he too was seized 
with a war fever, and hurried to the front, taking part 
in the battles of the Army of the Cumberland and of 
the Tennessee, until after the fall of Atlanta. Hav- 
ing had a taste of war, he could not rest contented at 
home, and after a short stay he again enlisted, and 
with his regiment did valiant service in the Shenan- 



doah Valley, in Virginia, until again discharged, in the 
fall of 1865. 

Again he entered a printing-office (a job-printing 
establishment in Louisville, Ky.) and remained at 
work until the fall of 1866, when he entered the law 
office of Col. A. W. Prather, where he studied for two 
years that he might better prepare himself for the 
newspaper business. During these years he was a 
regular paid correspondent of the Indianapolis and 
Cincinnati daily papers, and in 1868 made a trip 
through Kansas, New Me.xico, Colorado and the other 
Western States and Territories as a newspaper cor- 
respondent. While at Lawrence, Kansas, in the 
spring of 1869, he was admitted to the Bar, after a 
strict examination conducted by ex-Gov. Shannon 
and Judge James Christian. Being "in love" with 
the newspaper business, however, Mr. Linton had no 
idea of engaging in the practice of law, and soon re- 
sumed his journeying as a newspaper correspondent, 
and since that time has been an almost constant 
traveler, principally through the States of the South 
and West, except part of the time when he was 
engaged in office work on the Indianapolis (Ind.) 
Sentinel, of which he was news editor for some time. 
About six years ago Mr. Linton came to Michigan, 
and, becoming enamored of one of the daughters of 
the State, he concluded to settle down and lead a 
"quiet life!" In the year 1878 he was married, and 
for a time was engaged in publishing a paper in 
Southwest Michigan; but, not being successful, he 
accepted the city-editorship of the Columbus (Ind.) 
Rcpuhliian, to which place he removed ; but his wife 
not having good health there, he resigned his posi- 
tion and returned to Michigan, and again attached 
himself to a Michigan paper. 

In 1883 he received propositions from the people 
of Coleman to establish a paper in that thriving little 
village. After a careful survey of the town and its 
surroundings, Mr. Linton made up his mind that 
there was a bright future for the village and accepted 
the offer, and on the nth day of August, 1883, he 
issued the first number of the Coleman Advocate, 
which has been a more successful venture than he 
dreamed possible to attain for several years. Being 
so thoroughly in earnest in his belief in the future of 
the town, Mr. Linton is preparing to spend the com- 
ing years in the village by building one of the finest 
and most convenient residences in that region. 



V§) 



A 



c>: 






(o-. 



m^ 



^<>!1!1^DD;>^- 




I 



■•^««1«^ 



/ 



^/I^J, 




.C^:iy%-t^ 




%^ 



-:j&^ — ©v^^n ii>: U'i^>'^ 






^ 



e 



V 



<> 



V 



i 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




Being, also, of an active disposition, he has pUinged 
into a hearty support of the vital interests of his 
adopted State, and by his aggressiveness is making 
his part of the county kr.own and felt in business as 
well as m political circles, and is fast moving to the 
front in the ranks of Republicanism in his county. 
The only secret organization to which Mr. Linton be- 
longs is the G. A. R., of which he is an ardent mem- 
ber. 



'enjamin P. Dean is a farmer on section 
ll>. 22, Midland Township. His parents 
were Benjamin and Jerusha (Dewey) 
Dean. (See sketch of Benj. Dean.) He was 
born in Peru, Mass., July 12, 1839; attended 
the common school and Lee High School 
until 20 years of age. Li 1862 he came to Sanilac 
Co., Mich., where he followed farming ten years, and 
then came to this county, settling where he now re- 
sides, taking possession of 70 acres of land. He 
now owns about 570 acres, in Midland Township, 
almost 25 of which is under cultivation. 

In politics he is in sympathy with the Republican 
party. 

In Watertown, Ont., April 3, 1874, Mr. Dean was 
married to Miss Jane, daughter of Henry and Jane 
(Smith) Baker, natives of Ontario. Mrs. Dean was 
born in Erin, Ont., July 13, 1856. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dean are the parents of six children, born as follows: 
Edna N., Jan. 10, 1875; Carrie O., Nov. 12, 1876; 
Ward A. R., April 19, 1878; Cecile E., Nov. 19, 
1879; Jessie F., Dec. 20, 1881; Nelson K., Jan. 3, 
1884. 

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Dean appear on 
preceding pages. 





ouis H. Wesson, farmer, section 14, Homer 
Township, was born Sept. 6, 1845, in Flint, 
Genesee Co., Mich. His parents, Leonard 
and Elizabeth (Sherwood) Wesson, were natives 
respectively of Massachusetts and Michigan, 
and of English and Welsh descent. His father 
was a druggist and conducted his interests in that 
branch of merchandise at Flint, Saginaw and Pon- 




tiac. He is now engaged in the culture of small 
fruits in the city of Flint. The mother died at Flint, 
June 6, 1854. She bore seven children, — six sons 
and a daughter. Two of the former are deceased. 

Mr. Wesson is the second child and eldest son of 
his parents. He attended the union school in his 
native city until he was 16 years old. The civil war 
had awakened in his young mind an interest in the 
great issues before the country, and he enlisted in 
January, 1862, as a bugler in Co. G, First Mich. Vol. 
Cav., under Col. Broadhead. The regiment was as- 
signed to the Army of the Potomac, and Mr. Wesson 
was in all the engagements in which the regiment 
was involved throughout the entire campaign. He 
spent two years in the capacity of bugler, and in 
February, 1864, he was detailed private Orderly to 
Gen. Ward, and held the post six months, when he 
was transferred to the Army of the Shenandoah 
Valley, as private Aid to Gen. Wright. On the 26th 
of September, 1864, while private guard over a 
building near Harrisburg, he was captured and taken 
to Libby prison, at Richmond, where he was incar- 
cerated for five months and suffered all the oft-told 
hardships and privations of that modern Baistile. 
The effect upon him was to reduce his avoirdupois 
from 150 to 70 pounds. In February, 1865, he was 
paroled, and immediately received a furlough of 30 
days, which he spent among his friends. He re- 
joined his regiment the night previous to the surren- 
der of Gen. Lee, and was present on that memorable 
occasion. The regiment proceeded to Wheeling, W. 
Va., and thence went to Leavenworth, Kan., where 
they remained 30 days. At the expiration of that 
time they went to Salt Lake City, and were there 
engaged in defending and protecting United States 
mail routes and officials. Mr. Wesson received an 
honorable discharge July 5, 1866, having been four 
years and six months in the military service of the 
United States. He had participated in about 40 
important battles, besides numberless skirmishes, 
among which were about 60 frays with the Indians, 
while engaged in frontier service. 

Mr. Wesson returned to Flint, where he was em- 
ployed for a time as a clerk in a store. Later, he 
interested himself in engineering and farming, and 
extended his operations in the former to Petrolia, 
Can. He again took up his abode at Flint, and in 
1872 came to Midland Co., Mich., and spent three 

t??- ■■■■"■" " "^ " 



*■* 



VS 



9 

s 

^ 



0) 



re) 



^DDf^Ar^.' 



^mmi 



^^4 



g®8K- 






>: 



V 

Si 



364 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



years in the occupation of builder, when he took 
possession of a small farm held by his wife on section 
14, in Homer Township. It was in a wholly unim- 
proved condition, as was the surrounding country. 
Mr. Wesson was placed his entire acreage under im- 
provements and creditable cultivation. In the 
cyclone of Sept. 6, 1882, his house and barn were 
entirely destroyed, necessitating the construction of 
new farm buildings. 

He was married Oct. 23, 1872, at Midland, to Mrs. 
Sarah Fineout, daughter of Henry and Gertrude 
(Sawyer) Tice. Her parents were natives of the 
State of New York, where they passed their entire 
lives, the mother dying in 1845, and the father in 
1 87 2. Mrs. Wesson was born Nov. 20, 1838, in 
Sullivan Co., N. Y. She grew to womanhood in the 
place of her birth, and came to Michigan in 1869. 
Willie L., born Sept. 16, 1874, and Blanchie M., 
born Dec. 9, 1876, are the names of the two chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Wesson. Their mother is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
Wesson belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows, and is 
a member of Dwight May Post, No. 69, G. A. R. 
He is a Republican of the most decided type, and 
cast his first vote for President in Libby prison, in 
November, 1864. The proudest inheritance he can 
leave to his son is the fact that he exercised the right 
of a freeman for tlie first time in favor of Abraham 
Lincoln in defiance of the rebels who held him in 
the jaws of death. He was United States Census 
Enumerator for his district in 1880; has served three 
years as School Assessor, and five years as Township 
Clerk. 

-5 ^^ >- 





ohn P. Baleh, Jr., is a general farmer on 

section 9, Jasper Township. He was born 

fio"^ in Trumbull Co., Ohio., June 5, 1858, and 

is a son of John P.,Sr.,and Elizabeth (Savage) 

Balch. (See sketch.) 

The subject of this sketch was the fourth 
child and third son in a family of eight children. 
When two years old the family settled on section 20, 
Jasper Township, this county, where he grew up to 
years of maturity. Sept. 7, 18S1, at St. Louis, Mich., 
he married Theresa Davis, a daughter of E. and 
Matilda (Huff) Davis, natives of Ontario, and of 




German and French descent, and now residents of 
Jasper Township. Mrs. B. was born in Ontario, 
Aug. 14, 1858, and was 21 years of age when the 
family settled in the above named township. Mr. 
and Mrs. Balch have one child, Mabel A., born Feb. 
15, 1884. 

A year after his marriage Mr. B. located on his 
80-acre tract on section g, Jasper Township, where 
he has commenced substantial improvements. 

In his political status he is counted a Republican. 



V 



(' 



c^: 



0. 



I^fon. James Van Kleeck, attorney at Mid- 
land City, and Representative from Mid- 
j^f^ land, Gladwin and Roscommon Counties, 
© was born Sept. 26, 1846, in E.xeter, Monroe Co., 

{ Mich., and is the son of Robert Van Kleeck. 

I His earliest traceable ancestors were of the 
sturdy race known in the primary history of the ^ 
State of New York as "Holland Dutch," and were 
pioneers of Dutchess County in the Empire State. 
Tliey were royalists, and when the Colonies revolted 
they betook themselves to Canada. Barnabas Van 
Kleeck, paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Van Kleeck 
of this sketch, married in the Dominion and reared 
his family, consisting of five sons and two daughters, 
— Barnabas, Peter, John, Jeremiah and Robert, Mer- 
cy and Cecilia. Robert Van Kleeck was the son of 
Barnabas (2d), and was born Aug. 25, 1807, at Van 
Kleeck's Hill, a village in Prescott Co., Ont., in whose 
cognomen is perpetuated the family patronymic. He 
married Catherine McManus, who was born in Buf- 
falo, of Irish descent, and removed in 1832 to La 
Salle, Monroe Co., Mich., and later to Exeter in the 
same county. He returned to Canada in 1837, to 
participate in the revolt against the British Govern- 
ment known to history as the "Patriot War," or 
Mackenzie's Rebellion. He came back to the Penin- 
sular State when the futile attempt to secure inde- 
pendence proved a failure. His children are all 
living. Cecilia, the eldest, is Mrs. Moses Fountain, 'S) 
of Monroe Co., Mich. ; Eliza is Mrs. William Simons, i 
and is a resident of the same county ; Judith (Mrs. ^ 
David Potter) lives in Washtenaw Co., Mich. ; Kate ^ 
(Mrs. Herbert O. Brown) resides in Van Buren Co., ^ 
Mich. Their mother died in 184S; their father's :V 
demise occurred in January, 1881. m^ 




tlBf>^ 



w 



$(^#®- 



■^nr 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



4^^c(®vii 



365 






^ Mr. Van Kleeck is the only son born to his i^ar- 
'|;\ ents, and is the fourth child in order of birth. He 
;':, secured a good preliminary education in the common 
I schools of Monroe County and studied at the High 
r?, School in the city of the same name. 

He was a mere lad when the Civil War broke out, 
and early within the first year of its existence he 
made an attempt to become a soldier. A very boy 
in fact and appearance, his application was rejected; 
but a few months later he made a more successful 
i assault on the sympathies of the enrolling officers, 
f% and in June, 1862, found himself in regulation blue 
and brass buttons, and duly recorded as a soldier for 
the Union, in the 17th Mich. Vol. Inf, Co. D. The 
command was assigned to the First Brigade, First 
Division, Ninth Army Corps. Mr. Van Kleeck re- 
ceived his credentials of bravery on the field of An- 
tietam, Sept. 17, 1862, where he was wounded in the 
left side by a missile supposed to be a minie-ball. 
The wound was similar in character to that of Presi- 
dent Garfield, and was very severe, the shot lodging 
in proximity to the dorsal vertebrse, where it still 
=1 "holds the fort." He was reported killed, and the 
<9 surgeons decided that he could not live. He was 
t=a: eventually transferred to the general hospital at Fred- 
ericksburg, whence he was discharged in January, 
1863. He was practically disabled for several years, 
and when sufficiently recovered resumed his studies 
in the High School at Monroe. 

In 1868 he entered the Law Department of the 
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was 
graduated in 1870. Soon after that event he was 
nominated for the position of Register of Deeds for 
Monroe County, running against Col. Constant Luce, 
formerly Colonel of his regiment, but was unsuccess- 
ful. In the same fall he came to Midland City and 
opened on office for the practice of his profession. 
In the spring following he was elected Clerk and 
Attorney of Midland City. In the fall of 1872 he 
was elected Prosecuting Attorney, in which office he 
has served six years, being re-elected three alternate 
(^ times, in 1872, 1876 and 1880. In 1882 he was 
1 nominated to represent the district in the Legislature 
s^s of Michigan, at a RepubUcan Convention held at 
(^ Midland City, and took the field against H. H. Wood- 
Q^ ruff, nominee of tlie Independent-Republican ele- 
■^ ment, and Dr. Aldrich, Fusion candidate. He ran 
^ ahead of his ticket in his own county by 600 votes, 



v^) 







\ 



and made a successful campaign by a majority of 
400 votes in the District. He served on Committees 
on Judiciary and State University, and discharged 
his duties with credit to himself and honor to his 
constituency. 

Mr. Van Kleeck was married July 3, 1872, to 
Juliet C, daughter of Thomas J. and Juliet (Clarke) 
Carpenter. She was born in Orion, Oakland Co., 
Mich. (See sketch of T. J. Carpenter). Three 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Van 
Kleeck, as follows : Edith, Julys, 'S76; James C, 
May 28, i88r, and an infant. 



harles M. Card, farmer on section 16, 
f. Hope Township, was born in Old Hick- 
bridge, Berkshire Co., Mass., Dec. 16, 
1825, the son of Elisha and Susanna Card, 
i|^ natives of Rliode Island. The father died 
Dec. 16, i860, and the mother in 1844. Mr. 
Card's palernal and maternal grandfathers were both 
Revolutionary soldiers. 

The subject of this biography was reared on a 
farm, and, leaving home at 18 years of age (1843), 
went to Medina, Orleans Co., N. Y., to learn the 
wagon-maker's trade. He remained there until 1848, 
and then went to Utica, where he worked at his trade 
for two years. In that city, Jan. 28, 1849, he formed 
a life partnership with Miss Jane Olds, daughter 
of Martin and Mary A. (Prim) Olds. Both parents 
are now deceased, having ended their lives in Can- 
ada, whither they had emigrated from England. 
Mrs. Card was born in the last mentioned country, 
Oct. 29, 1826. 

After marriage, Mr. C. removed to Medina, where 
he was employed at his trade two years. His next 
move was to Kingston, Can., where he lived through 
one winter; and then he moved to Wolf Island, 
Can. Here he worked at his trade for a time, and 
then on a rented farm for two years. At the expira- 
tion of this time he purchased 40 acres of land. He 
lived at this place altogether seven years; then sell- 
ing out, he lived in Kingston again from spring to 
fall. Thence he went 20 miles to Camden, and 
lived two years in that village and five years on a 
farm in the vicinity, which he purchased. He then 
made his last move to his present home in this 
county, in i868. He purchased 120 acres of wild 



(^ 



^ 



^: 







mm' 



Au:^ 



-#t^5f^>^ 




^DIl^DD^i> 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^|?^C(^ 






:^ 



^ 



v) 




land, and had to cut down trees before he could find 
a space to build a house. He now owns 60 acres. 
He is a Democrat and has been School Treasurer. 
He and wife are members of the "Church of God." 
The following is the record of the six children 
added to this family : Mary Jane was born Oct. 24, 
1849, in Utica, N. Y., and married John Partridge; 
Maria S. was born Aug. 25, 185 i, in Medina, Orleans 
Co., N. Y., and was married April 3, 1869, to George 
Erway ; Leander W. was born Dec. 15, 1853, on 
Wolf Island, Ontario, Can., and was married in 1S7S 
to Phebe Rooker; Maggie A. was born Nov. 26, 
1857, on Wolf Island, and married Amos A. Has- 
kell; Harriet E. was born Feb. 11, i860, at Camden, 
Can., and was married in March, 1882, to William 
Rooker; Charles M., Jr., was born March 11, 1867, 
at Camden, Can., and was married April 20, 1884, to 
Irzettia Burgess. 

|€l; eorge Smock, farmer, section 19, Jasper 

-„____„ Townsliip, was born in Livingston Co., N. 

tH^I^^ Y., March 16,1838. His parents, Adam 

hf^ P. and Eleanor (Vanderbeek) Smock, were 

X natives respectively of New Jersey and New 

* York, and of New Jersey ancestry for several 

generations. His father, a farmer during life, and 

now aged 72, and his mother, aged 65, are living with 

him. 

George was about three years old when his parents 
went to Allegany Co., N. Y. He visited Gratiot Co., 
Mich., in 1857, but continued an inmate of his 
parental home until of age, when, Sept. 24, 1S62, he 
married Miss Emily, third child and second daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Mary (Craig) Martin. (See 
sketch of Andrew J. Martin.) She was born in Por- 
tage Co., Ohio, March 24, 1841, and came to Michi- 
gan with her parents when 20 years old. After 
marriage, Mr. and Mrs. S. owned and occupied an 
80 acre farm in Pine River Township, Gratiot Co., 
Mich., till the summer of i87i,when they came to 
this county and settled on a quarter of section 19, 
where, they now reside. Here Mr. Smock has im- 
proved 65 acres and erected fair farm buildings. In 
his township he has been Highway Commissioner, 
Health Officer, etc. In political matters he is a 
staunch and active Republican, and he belongs to 





the I. O. O. F., at Salt River. He is a popular 
citizen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smock have had five children, 
namely: Willis, born Feb. 27, 1864; Oscar, April 
7,1866; Freddie, June 26, 1875; and an infant, 
March r6, 1884; and Minnie, born April 25, 1868, 
died Sept. 19, 1875. 



' '^''3'" amuel D. Shaffner, farmer, section 11, In- 
1 . __ .,crsoll Township, was born in Pennsylvania 
■|ijiV<? ~'' Dec. 19, 1847. His parents, Henry and 
m\\^ Abbalenia (Willman) Shaffner, were natives of 
Switzerland. He lived in Pennsylvania until 
1880, engaged in farming and lumbering, and 
in February' of that year he came to Midland County, 
first buying a tract of 60 acres, to which he has since 
added 40 acres. He now has about 12 acres under 
cultivation. 

Mr. S. has held the office of School Director, and 
in the spring of 1884 was elected Drain Commis- 
sioner. He is a Republican, and in respect to relig- 
ious belief he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, as also does his wife. 

Mr. Shaffner was married in Pennsylvania, Aug. 
10, 1869, to Frances M., daughter of Thomas and 
Mary J. (Mann) Craven, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania and the latter of the Empire State. 
Mrs. S. was born in the Key-stone State, Nov. 11, 
185 I ; and to Mr. and Mrs. P. have been born three 
children, namely : Lauren O., Annie M. and 
Thomas H. 

Mr. S. enlisted in July, 1864, in Co. D, First Bat., 
Pa. Vol. Inf , and served until November of the same 
year. 



-^ 



^ 



^— 



j^J^^^S^ 



'5 elson Hitsman, farmer and lumberman, 
-^I'^'^l" section 21. Lee Township, was born in 
JF^ Russell Township, Ottawa Co., Ont., March 
'^ §i i7i 1845. When ten years old he went to 
1^ St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., with his parents, and 
two years later he left home and was employed in 
various occupations. He bought 40 acres of land, 
and when 21 years of age he sold it, left that county, 
and came to Lapeer Co., Mich., afterward moving to 



I 



( 

A 



C< 






-^^tlt]:^:tll];>^ 



-^4?^C<I 





z=i^^^ crTr<^-> U Ij ;^. p U ^ i?^7-^^ :2^^Q^- 



-*«^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



367 



ft 



Tuscola County, where he bought a farm of 1 20 acres, 
worked it for seven years, then managed a farm in 
Lai)eer County again for two years; then, in 1S76, 
he went to Clay Co., Kan., and about three years 
I'f). later he returned to this State and purchased 80 acres 
of timbered land on section 21, Lee Township, where 
lie has since improved 30 acres. In politics Mr. 
Hitsman is a Democrat, and he has held the minor 
offices of his district. 

Mr. H. was married in St, Lawrence Co., N. Y., 
Sept. 6, J 863, to Miss Eliza A. Lanway, who was 
born in that county June i, 1848. Tht^ children of 
Mr. and Mrs. Hitsman are : George L., born Aug. 24, 
1864; Mary E. E., March 26, 1869; Dora R., June 
17, 1880; and William N., who was born July r, 
1873, and died Feb. 3, 1875. 







^ 



f'j H. Ketcham, junior member of the lumber 
jii!====|i firm of Wright & Ketcham, resident at 
J'lfS^ ^^^"^ Saginaw, Mich., was born Feb. 22, 
jiljf ^ 1845, on Staten Island, N. Y., and is a son of 
■^■1^^ Ira G. and Fannie M. Ketcham. His father, 
a farmer, settled in DeKalb Co., 111., where he reared 
his son to the age of 20 years, instructing him in agri- 
cultural pursuits. In 1866 the latter came to Sagi- 
naw, Mich., where he engaged heavily in lumbering 
in the interests of Ketcham, Edsell &] Dunning. 
The enterprise lasted ten years, when he became 
connected with the lumber firm of Wright & Co. 
After four years the present business relation of 
Wright & Ketcham was formed, and has since 
continued. The senior member of the firm is the 
most prominent man in the Saginaw Valley, Ammi 
W. Wright. The lumber interests of the firm in 
Midland County are extensive. They own r 0,000 
acres of hard and soft timber lands, and instituted 
their business at the point where the village of 
Ketcham stands, May i, 1881. They commenced 
business to secure a large amount of pine lumber 
for themselves and also in the interest of Messrs. 
Rust & Hay, of Saginaw. During the last three 
years they have placed 100,000,000 feet of lumber 
on the banks of the Tittabawassee River, and have 
125,000,000 feet to secure, which will require be- 
tween three and four years. They constructed a 




^6^# 



.25J^y^ 



MM 



narrow-gauge railroad in 1882, built of iron rails, 20 
pounds to the yard ; but the track is now laid with 
3o-l)ound steel rails, the old ones being utilized for 
branches and siding. The road is about 22 miles in 
extent, and its rolling stock includes three coal-burn- 
ing engines and 75 log cars. The road is in use 
about nine months in the year. It is deemed more 
economical and safe to use coal-burning engines in 
a wood country. The facilities afford a banking 
capacity of about 300,000 feet of lumber daily. The 
working force during the winter includes about 500 
men. During the summer the operations require 
about 100 men, making an average of 325 men 
through the year. The yearly running expenses 
amount to $200,000. 

Ammi W. Wright, who is now a resident of Sara- 
toga, N. Y., formerly lived at Saginaw, where he still 
has extensive business relations. He owns a saw- 
mill there and is President of the Wright Lumber 
Co., of Wellstime & Co., of Wright and Davis, of 
Otsego Co., Mich., and is a member of the lumber 
firm of Giles, Gilbert & Co., of Montcalm County. 
He holds large interests in Gratiot County, and is 
the principal owner of real estate at Alma, in that 
county, where he owns the Wright House, one of the 
finest establishments for the entertainment of the 
traveling public in the State of Michigan. Mr. 
Wright has large landed interests in Minnesota, and 
owns considerable property in Minneapolis. He is 
a heavy stock owner in the First National Bank and 
the Home National Bank at East Saginaw, and also 
in the bank at Alma. He is a partner in the firm of 
Taylor, Wolfenden & Co., of Detroit, and is heavily 
concerned in the Lansing, Alma & Mt. Pleasant 
Railroad, now in process of construction. He is one 
of the most notable examples of what one man may 
accomplish who sets out in life with empty hands 
and a head sufficiently well balanced to recognize 
and grasp opportunities, — a much better capital than 
inherited wealth. It has placed him among notable 
millionaires and incited him to widely diffused and 
varied business investments. Among these is an ex- 
tensive sheep ranch in Texas. Mr. Wright is about 
63 years of age. 

The village of Ketcham is the outgrowth of the 
operations carried on there by Messrs. Wright & 
Ketcham. The mercantile establishment of the firm 
and the {wstoffice are under the management of 
James G. Ketcham, brother of one of the proprietors. 

m^^n^rS ^^'^^ ^^^^^^^^^ 



ybj 



A 



V 



< 



( 



y 



fa, 



^)$f^tf=»- 






:<:-: 







■^ZS^)^^ 



<-tlP>:illi-> 



'^ 



"^^fis^-^ 



MIDLAJSin COUNTY. 




^^p^rwin Inman, farmer on section 28, Hope 

"y^'^ Township, was born in Ray Township, 
^T.^- *' Macomb Co., Mich., June 22, 1854, the 
son of Charles and Amanda M. (Green) In- 
man. The father was born in October, 1826, 
in New York State, and the mother in 1825, in 
the same State. They now reside in Lincoln Town- 
ship, this county. Their family include Erwin H., 
Luella, Oscar F., Winslow J. and Orville B.; and 
Mrs. Inman has two children by a former marriage, — 
David M. Wilcox and Sarah Wilcox. 

The subject of this sketch commenced when only 
16 years of age to earn his own support. He 
worked in the lumber woods in the winters, and on 
neighboring farms in the summer seasons. In 1876, 
shortly after reaching his majority, he purchased 40 
acres where he has since lived. 

July 4, 1877, in Lincoln Township, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Emma J. Conner, daughter of Isaac 
and Laura (Brown) Conner. Mr. and Mrs. C. are 
residing on a farm in Grout Township, Gladwin 
County, and have had nine children, of wliom Brit- 
tannia is deceased. She was the eldest. The living 
are Martha, Mary A., Rhoda, Emma J., Margaret, 
Lillian, Philip R. and William N. Mrs. Inman was 
born Sept. it, 1861, in Mariposa, Can., and is the 
mother of three children, as follows : Charles W., 
born Oct. 19, 1878; Isaac C, April 15,1881 ; and an 



infant, Feb. 23, 1884. All were born in Hope Town- 
ship. 

Mr. I. is a Greenbacker, and in religious inclina- 
tion belongs to the Church of God. 



I 



4 




ohn Haley, fanner, section 26, Mt. Haley 
""'^/l Township, was born Jan. 15, 1842, in 
Frontenac Co , Ont. His father, John 
Haley, died in July, 1862, and after that event, 
-jiL his family, including his wife, one daughter 
\ and two sons, came to Saginaw County. In 
the springof 1868, they removed to Midland County 
and fixed their residence on 160 acres of land, for 
which Mr. Haley had entered his claim in the previ- 
ous year. It was all in heavy timber and the owner 
has sold 80 acres of the original tract, and finely im- 
proved a portion of the remainder. Its soil is of the 
best character. The mother died in November, 

1875- 

Mr. Haley was married Oct. 12, 1870, in East 
Saginaw, to Alice Howley, a native of Ontario, where 
she was born, Feb. 18, 1842. Eight children have 
been born of this marriage, all of whom are living 
but one. 

The family l^elong to the Roman Catholic Church, 
in which they are in full and regular standing. Mr. 
Haley is a Democrat, and has held the most important 
local official positions. He has been Treasurer and 
Justice of the Peace, and has officiated as Drain and 
Highway Commissioner. 










^iA. 



^ 









■*!'t^3j 



\g^^^- 



-^^^^ — ^tK^D ^'^M^>-^^ — ^^€^ 




^-rm^^ 



-:J^^ 6V4>lir^.llIl^>r^ 



r-:;;;>' 



^^^(^vM 



t 






v^ 



M 



#&». 






(:-> 

/• 
/^ 



>: 



V 

> 















9 



Si/ 



^ 







r&) 




^si^^ «^<^D!l^tl!]>> 



z,,.^. 



f 



m^^ 



rn 



r<-^mi;^Dii^> 



V 



t 



^ 












A 



<0' 



(', 




^^<^^D 3 ^ IID;>^ ^5^3>n 



^^5f@>^) 




(b 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 








INTRODUQTORY. Mk 




yto) 













NLY a few years have passed 
since any attempt has been 
made to convert the unbroken 

H- - JK5«.-^ ■^i—^.r^i^-. forests of Northern Michigan 
t^l v^'^^j^ss^^w^^^S into an agricultural district 
and homes for civilized man. 
The early surveyors which Government 
sent out to make the survey of 
this part of the State reported that it 
was an irreclaimable waste and not fit 
for cultivation in any quarter, the soil 
being of that character which pre- 
cluded the propagation of cereals. 
The rapidity of settlement and enor- 
mous crops of everything in the line of cereals 
demonstrated conclusively their mistake, for no acre- 
age surpasses Northern Michigan in productiveness. 
Notvifithstanding the oft-repeated tales of want and 
hardships told by their sires, men of energy, with 
their families and all their earthly possessions loaded 
upon wagons drav/n by oxen, pushed their way step 
by step, through the unbroken forests of Midland, 
until they found suitable locations. With a spirit of 
heroism have they toiled until the forests were laid 
low, and their herculean labor is manifest in the 
broad acres of highly cultivated land, upon which 
stand palatial residences and outbuildings of the 
most expensive character. Over the grounds where 
the red man chased the bounding deer, and the 
wild-cat and wolves held their nightly vigils, may be 
seen the husbandman gathering the golden harvests ; 
where the Indian's wild war-whoop was heard, stands 



the stately house of worship. Transportation of 
goods by ox teams has given way to the power of 
steam, and a commerce has been opened up with all 
parts of the civilized world. Prosperity in a high 
degree has smiled upon her people, who are fortunate 
in living in the most healthful, beautiful and pro- 
ductive State in the Union, taking age into consider- 
ation. 

The history of this county is possessed of no small 
degree of interest. While other counties were con- 
nected with the frontier with large bodies of excellent 
lands, these seemed shut off from the gaze of shrewd 
speculators by reason of its heavy growth of timber. 
They were destined to become the heritage of an 
honest, industrious people, and the income derived 
from the timber and products of the soil has given 
many of the first comers a handsome competency. 



-5— vVW; 




C?) 



ca: 







Value of Local History. - 

ji ERY few of the present generation realize 
' the great value of local history, living as 
they do in an age of industry and thrift. 
Tlie opportunities for speculation and the 
haste to become wealthy take precedence of 
everything else, and the fact is not taken into 
consideration that the pioneers are rapidly passing 
from the scene of their labors, leaving but little time 
for the compilation of biographical sketches which 
constitute the heretofore unwritten history of Midland 



^ 





-:^^^K — ^ve^Dii;<nii^.>v 



"^f^^^^ 



'■i' 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



<h 






V 

> 



County. Their children have heard from the Hps of 
their aged sires the'storj' of privation and toil of 
those who were first at the front in the settlement of 
the county, but thfir children will lose sight of the 
facts unless they be recorded in such manner as to 
become intelligible and kept fresh in the minds of 
succeeding generations. 

Surrounded, as we are, with everything which 
wealth and taste can suggest, the fact is almost lost 
sight of that here were the best years of the lives of 
our ancestors devoted to the development of one of 
the best agricultural counties in the State. As the 
virtues, privations, 'toil and hardships of the pio- 
neers of Midland are well worthy of a more fitting 
memorial than can be secured by a granite monu- 
ment, the design of the publishers is to record a his- 
tory of inestimable value to every citizen. 

The facts mentioned have been carefully culled 
from every source ; neither pains nor expense has 
been spared in the compilation of this work, which, 
although not without error, is as correct as can be 
gathered from the pioneers themselves. 

Upon local history depends the perpetuation of 
facts heretofore unwritten, as well as the biographical 
sketches of every worthy pioneer'in the county that 
could be procured. Each sketch speaks volumes; 
and a history of one man's life, perhaps of an entire 
family, is nov recorded where naught can eftace or 
destroy it. From this will all future volumes of like 
import take their data. Those who have volunteered 
the information from which this work is compiled, 
will live in the history of this county as long as time 
lasts. No manlier hands e'er drew a sword than they 
who faced privation and danger while engaged in the 
subjugation of the dense wilderness which once 
covered this now beautiful land, and to them is this 
volume dedicated. 



How Our Fathers Lived. 





HE young men and women of to-day have 
very little conception of the mode of life 
among the early settlers of Midland Coun- 
ty. In but few respects are the manners of 
the present time similar to those of. a quarter 
of a century ago. The clothing, the dwell- 
ings, the diet, the social customs, etc., have under- 



gone a total revolution as though a new race had 
taken possession of the land. Pioneer life in Mid- 
land County finds its parallel in almost every county 
in the State and throughout the entire Northwest. 
The land was to be cleared of forests, and the skill 
of human art used to transplant to the fertile re- 
gion the civilization of the East. Cabins were to be 
erected, wells dug, and the rivers and creeks made 
to labor for the use of mankind. 

.\s many living citizens can well remember, the 
pioneers had many difficulties to contend with, not 
the least of which was the journey from civilization 
to their forest homes. The route lay through a wild 
and rough country ; swamps and marshes were 
crossed with great exertion and fatigue ; rivers were 
forded with difficulty and danger ; nights were passed 
in the dense forests, with mother earth for a couch 
and the trees and foliage for a shelter ; long, weary 
days and weeks of travel were 'endured, but finally 
their eyes were gladdened and their hearts beat 
faster when a vision of their future home burst upon 
them. 

The first thing upon arrival was to set about build- 
ing a cabin. While this was being done the family 
slept in their wagons or upon the grass, while the 
horses or mules, tethered to prevent escape, grazed 
on the grass around them. Trees of a suitable and 
uniform size were selected, felled and prepared for 
their places. The day for the raising was announced 
and from far and near came other pioneers to assist 
in the labor. The structure went up, a log at a time, 
those engaged in the work stopping now and then to 
"wet their whistles," and soon it was ready for the 
clapboard roof, which was held on by huge weight- 
poles. A door and a window were cut where the 
good wife directed, a chimney built, and the building 
was ready for its occupants. The space between the 
logs was filled in with split sticks of wood, called 
"chinks," and then daubed over, both inside and out, 
with mortar made of clay. The floor was some- 
times nothing more than earth tramped hard and 
smooth, but was commonly made of "puncheons," or 
split logs, with the split side turned upwards. The 
roof was made by gradually drawing in the top to 
the ridge-|)ole and on cross-pieces laying the clap- 
boards, which, being several feet in length, instead 
of being nailed were held in place by weight-poles, 
reaching the entire length of the cabin. 

For a fire-place, a space was cut out of the logs on 




V 



( 



















J 



Wi^'^ 



r^^ — ^-7<>lin:<5:Dl]^> 



•r-^ 



-z^^^ 



v^ 



~f4^-^>^^^ 



(• ) 

■ r 






S> 



^) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



373 



one side of the room, usually about six feet in length, 
and three sides were built up of logs, making an off- 
set in the wall. This was lined with stone, if con- 
venient ; if not, tlien earth was used. The flue, or 
upper part of the chimney, was built of small split 
sticks, two and a half or three feet in length, carried 
a little space above the roof, and plastered over with 
clay, and when finished was called a "cob and clay" 
chimney. The door space was also made by cutting 
an aperture in one side of the room of the required 
size, the door itself being made of clapboards secured 
by wooden pins to two cross-pieces. The hinges 
were also of wood, while the fastening consisted of a 
wooden latch catching on a hook of the same ma- 
terial. To open the door from the outside, a strip of 
buckskin was tied to the latch and drawn through a 
hole a few inches above the latch bar, so that on 
pulling the string the latch was lifted from the catch 
or hook, and the door was opened without further 
trouble. To lock the door it was only necessary to 
pull the string through the hole on the inside. Here 
the family lived, and here the guest and wayfarer 
were made welcome. The living-room was of good 
size, but to a large extent it was also kitchen, bed- 
room, parlor and arsenal, with flitches of bacon and 



rings of dried pumpkins suspended from the rafters. 
The old cabins are rapidly being superseded by 
modern frame and brick structures, yet with almost 
tearful eyes we watch them disa[)pear. Every log 
and chink has a history; could they speak, they 
would tell us of tlie days of toil and privation under- 
gone by our fathers, of the days made sacred by the 
birth or death of his children, of the religious services 
which were held there when no church was yet built 
in the neighborhood, or the merry-makings at which 
the neighbors for miles around attended, when logs 
were to be rolled, and a dance given in the evening; 
the whole to conclude with a supper, the delicacies 
of which consisted of venison, maple sugar and corn 
bread. One by one the old log structures are being 
removed, but it seems almost a sacrilege to tear them 
down, so closely have they been connected with the 
success of our pioneers, many of whom now state 
that although they are now wealthy and have every 
comfort and luxury that money can procure, yet the 
days spent in their primeval home and the kindness 
which everywhere prevailed among neighbors, brought 
more happiness than is now enjoyed, although their 
b^.rns are filled with grain, their pockets with gold 
and their lands doited witn herds of cattle and sheep. 



^.s.J 




y6) 



"■■J 






O) 






'^^^m^f 



-^€^^ 



<^nii^:tinf> 





> 



BOHIGINAL history in this 

county is somewhat limited. 

Although these were their 

lands, and among the best 

___________ hunting grounds, they were 

(^!j t^>. --/,,■ it) ^11 removed to a reservation 
in Isabella County, which had 
been ceded them by the Govern- 
ment in 1855, which lands are 
yet possessed by the remnants of 
the tribes, now nearly extinct. 
Nearly all the Indians living in 
this portion of the State belonged to 
&iS the Chippewa tribe, although the 




I 



(c^ 



Pottawatomies and Ottawas were so 
mixed with them by intermarriage that compara- 
tively few full-blooded specimens could be found of 
either tribe. There was always a kindly feeling ex- 
isting between the Indians and the whites of this 
county, and no disturbance of importance was noted 
during the early history of this section. Their time 
was spevit in hunting, fishing and trading, having only 
a few acres of cleared land, which was cultivated 
very poorly. Their dances were the occasion of much 
hilarity, and every one who desired was made wel- 
come as a looker-on. The " sugar dance," the "green- 
corn dance," " harvest dance" and " war dance" 
were the only recreations indulged in, unless it were 
an occasional " horse race," and these were tame 
affairs, the ponies following each other along a trail 
in single file. 

Their manner of burial was peculiar. The corpse 




was wrapped with bark and deposited in a shallow 
grave, which, when filled with earth was covered with 
bark. A pipe, tobacco, and hatchet were put at the 
head of the grave; and quarterly, during the first 
year, a squirrel or other small animal was buried, 
that the warrior might have sustenance for support 
until he reached the happy hunting grounds. 

The Indians could many for " a moon " or life, just 
as they liked. The marriage ceremony consisted 
only in presenting the bride a necklace, blanket, or 
any trinket, which if accepted constitvited marriage. 
Their number of wives was not limited, some having 
three or four. 

Pay-mos-ega, the aged Chippewa chief, died at 
" Indiantown," near St.Louis, and his body was kept 
" lying in state " for several days ; plenty of whisky 
was furnished the Indians from some quarter, and 
riot and revelry prevailed. During the c ;rnival of 
drunkenness three squaws were murdered and their 
bodies burned. 

Me-gon-gay-wan, a daughter of the chief men- 
tioned, afterward married Henry Ashman, who rep- 
resented the people in the .State Legislature at a 
later date. Two of his sons live in Isabella County, 
and are both intelligent and worthy men. Mrs. 
Mary Gruett, wife of James Gruett, who acted as in- 
terpreter at the Indian Mission, still lives near St. 
Louis, and is possessed of (]uite a fund of informa- 
tion regarding Indian life. 

The old Iroquois blood is flowing in the veins of 
many of them, and here and there one can trace a 
descendant of the Miamis, the Senecas, and oftener 



A 



Z< 



( 



-#i^ 





TT 



vC^DO^nu^^v 



-^^^(< 



MIDLANn COUNTY. 



the old and once powerful Pottawatomies. The old 
Etowah and Ojibway (now corrupted into Ottawa 
iv5» and Chippewa) are also represented largely; so the 
( present tribe, designated as " Chippewas of Saginaw, 
(z)j Swan Creek and Black River," is an amalgamation of 
- several tribes which were once distinct. In the 
Detroit treaty of Nov. 17, 1807, the lands in the 
Saginaw territory were set apart for the Ottawa, 
Chippewa, Wyandotte and Pottawatomie nations of 
Indians, as part of a general and divided concession 
^ from the Government; but it is not until the treaty 
;% made at Washington, May 9, 1836, that we see In- 
dians classified as "Chippewas of Swan Creek and 
Black River." The Wyandottes and Pottawatomies 
wandered westward, though many of the latter tribe 
settled in the Michigan Territory south of what is 
now the line of the Michigan Central Railroad. 

But among the new tribe of Chippeways of Swan 
Creek and Black River, there was a large number 
still of Wyandottes and Pottawatomies, although the 
prevailing number were divided between Ottawas 
and Chippewas, while occasionally, to tliis day, a 
Seneca Indian can be found. 

Civilization has been driving them remorselessly 
before it, — first from the beautiful valley of the 
Miami, up toward the Maumee; from there to the 
river Raisin, where Monroe now stands; from there 
towards the Detroit River, but urging tliem both west 
and northward from there to the Flint and Saginaw 
Rivers; but with all these temporizings urging them 
westward by offers of large annuities, which many of 
them accepted on arriving at Swan Creek, Black 
River and Saginaw, this conglomeration of tribes, 
under their new name, began to clear land, to hunt . 
and to fish ; but even in what was then a wilderness, 
they were not allowed to remain undisturbed; for the 
American Fur Company began the erection of trad- 
ing posts, and buying their valuable furs of the In- 
dian hunter and trapper. They and the subsequent 
traders paid them off in poor whisky and cheap 
goods at an exorbitant price. 
(3^ As civilization advanced, many of the whites took 
i Indian women as concubines, living in this unholy 
^ alliance as long as it suited either their convenience 
W. or inclination to do so, thus giving to these untutored ■ 
^ people their first lesson in civilization by teaching 
them the prostitution of their young women ! 

After a while this land became valuable to the 






s 




whites ; the steamboat appeared where before the 
waters of the Saginaw and Tittabawassee had known 
no more disturbance than the paddle of the Indian 
in his canoe. Business began to prosper, settlers to 
come in, and in 1855 these Indians were all called 
together and told that it was to their interest to give 
up land then worth one hundred dollars per acre 
and to move again northward into Isabella County, 
then almost a wilderness. To this they consented, 
and moved from their possessions to the lands along 
the Tittabawassee in this county, and to the reserva- 
tion in Isabella. There were fully 2,000 Indians 
living along the Tittabawassee when the first white 
settler came, and the Wymans, Whitmans, Townsends, 
Cronkrights and others had no other neighbors for 
years. 

All speak of the Chippewa Indians in the kindliest 
manner, and when the last ones left Midland County 
for their new home in Isabella, many tears of regret 
were shed by the whites at the necessity which 
caused their parting. 

Fifty years ago the Chippewas had undisputed 
possession of this territory, and the Sauks, another 
powerful tribe, endeavored to dispossess them of 
these beautiful valleys, which were such fine hunting 
grounds. A bloody battle was fought about two and 
one-half miles west of Midland City, at a bend in 
the river known as the "Ox-Bow," and many lives 
were lost on both sides, the "Chippewas" however 
coming off victorious. Their dead are now lying in 
the old Indian burying-ground a couple of miles 
southwest of Midland City. 

There were two other burying-grounds immediately 
east of Midland and inside its corporate limits where 
many of the aborigines were buried. Wliile exca- 
vating along the line of the Flint & Pere Marquette 
Railroad, the workmen unearthed many bones and 
utensils which had been placed in the graves to aid 
the warrior upon his arrival at the happy hunting 
grounds. 

They have gone from this county, and had it not 
been for the efforts of Major James W. Long, who 
for several years was Indian Agent in Isabella 
County, and was instrumental in securing them 
their patents in fee simple, the probability is that ere 
this they would have been removed to Isle Royale 
in Lake Superior, or some other equally undesirable 
locality. As it is, their present condition, as com- 




h 



9 









^^^^-^ 



.^^ 



A^>D!i^nn;^-^ 





©-^^Dtl^llil^^v 



TT- 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



1=3 



S 

/ 

v) 



pared with the past, is bad enough. They are 
dwindling away, or migrating each year to their old 
relatives, the Ottawas of Lake Michigan, the straits 
of Mackinac and Sault Ste. Marie. Others can be 
found among the Chippewas of Lake Superior, while 
those who remain earn a precarious living in amateur 
farming, hunting, fishing and the manufacture of 
baskets. They are undoubtedly the victims of fate; 
but it seems hard that they, the original owners of 
this land, have been compelled to give up so much 
when they have received so little. At present about 
600 Lidians are living on the reservation in Isabella 
County under the provisions of the treaty of Oct. 18, 
1864, which was supplemental to the treaty of Aug. 2, 
1855, when the tribe was in the fullness of its glory 
here. The last families left Midland County in 1865, 
and occasionally some of them come during the 
summer months to gather huckleberries, which grow 
in such profusion along the marshes. 

The treaty of 1864 gave to each head of a family 
80 acres of land, and to every Indian, male or female, 
upon arriving at the age of maturity, 40 acres, with 
the proviso that the Indian Agent shall classify them 
as "competent " or " non-competent." In case they 
are reported as "competent," a patent issues in fee 
simple, and they can transfer their land or alienate 
the title the same as any other freeholder. The 
''non-competent," while having a patent, cannot 
transfer the title without consent of the Secretary of 
the Interior. 

The reservation embraces the following Congres- 
sional townships in Isabella County, all being in 
towns north, by ranges west of the meridian line: 16, 
3entire; 15,3; 15,4; 15, 5 entire; 14, 5 entire, and 
the north half of 14, -3 and 14, 4. The principal 
value at that time attached to these lands was the 
magnificent pine timber which grew so luxuriantly 
upon it, while this value was enhanced by its prox- 
imity to the Chippewa and Salt Rivers, by which the 
logs could be floated to Saginaw and Bay City. 

Lumber speculators soon bought the pine, coupled 
with the right of removal, at nominal figures, after 
which land speculators purchased the land. Some of 
the Indians kept their land, but none of them the 
timber. 

It is as well, perhaps, as it is. The theory of the 
Indian Commission and the would-be humanitarians, 
that the North American Indians can be turned into 
a set of civilized farmers, is a phantasy long since ex- 







ploded. A percentage of them may be converted to 
civilization by schools, etc., but an Indian is an In- 
dian still. His romantic habits and the pleasures of 
the chase are more to hiui than "castled halls," and 
the delights of out-door and field sports cling to him 
still as they did his ancestry. Locality is one uf their 
chief attributes. Although ihey are entitled to land 
in the reservation, not only land, but the means ot 
having permanent and comfortable homes — notwith- 
standing all this, which any while man would have 
accepted greedily, the Indian will not take, but even 
now can be found in his old haunts, rendered doubly 
dear to him by habitation and the traditions of child- 
hood. The Indian problem has had a fair, honest 
and intelligent trial among the Chippewas of Sagi- 
naw, Swan Creek and Black River, and as far as 
ameliorating their condition is concerned, it has been 
a failure. Schools have been furnished them, with 
patieni, earnest teachers. The gospel has been 
preached to them, by hard-working, self-denying min- 
isters of Christ. Many can speak English; some can 
"write, read and cipher;" some are members of the 
Church, and all are peaceable and quiet. Civiliza- 
tion has done this much; but it has all been for the 
benefit of its own cupidity and protection. As for 
the Indian (!), in the wild woods, unbroken by the ax 
of the pioneer; by the shim.nering stream, full ot 
sustenance to him, with nature at his command, with 
his bow and his arrow on his shoulder, or his fishing 
pole or net in his hand, — the Indian of primitive 
ages was more one of God's noblemen than the non- 
descript produced by the hypocrisy of civilization. 

The inter-marriage of the race has so reduced 
them ])hysically that a few more years will find but 
a mere handful of tiie noble (?) red men who were 
formerly owners of this beautiful land. When they 
are gone who will mourn ? Who will drop a tear in 
memory of their former greatness? They have been 
dispossessed slowly but surely until a mere spot of 
land includes their possessions. Their end is near; 
their race is nearly run. No more is seen the smoke 
curling from their wigwams; no more is heard the 
"tom-tom," as its monotonous sound marshaled the 
braves for the "war dance.' Their camp fires have 
gone out; their hunting grounds are transformed 
into luxuriant meadows and highly cultivated fields. 
Nothing is left save this humble memorial to indicate 
that the aborigines ever inhabited this country. 



^ 



I 



^ 

,/ 



(^ 



^. 





^^^ 



Z^&K 6VC>Illl^|]Iis> 






(^ 









>^ 



V 



(S^ 



-l^t^fsV^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



377 




% > CS T ^^=^1' — s-3- 







jv. 





^ 




-^==3S= 



^S" 



PECULATION is easy regavd- 
iiii; the date of the coming of 
the first actual settlers to the 
territory embraced by the Mid- 
land County boundaries, but 
absolute knowledge of these 
facts is hard to obtain. There were 
many Indians and French half-breeds 
living here as early as 1830, although 
their location could hardly be called 
permanent one, they being chiefly en- 
gaged in hunting, trapping and fishing. 
The first actual white settler who came 
stay was John A. Whitman, whose ar- 
rival dates back to the spring of 1836. 
Not until the autumn of that year, however, did he 
bring his family and erect his house, but at that early 
date his was the first house built in the county. This 
was located on the east half of section i in Inger- 
soll Township, and for convenience was built near 
the river. The only neighbors Mr. Whitman had for 
several years were Indians, of whom he speaks in 
highest terms. They were living in bark shanties 
and tents made of skins, but the winters were passed 
in comparative comfort, and very little sickness was 
knovi'n among them. 

Charles Fitzhugh came two years later and pur- 
chased a large tract of land about the junction of the 
Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers, and near by 
built a log cabin, which was occupied in 1837 by 
John Wyman. In this cabin, on the sixth day of 







July, 1837, Julia A. Wyman was "born. This event 
was of no small importance, for hers was the first 
birth occurring in Midland County among the white 
settlers. She is now living in Midland City, the wife 
of John McLean. The cabin previously mentioned 
stood on the site now occupied by the fair grounds, 
and was the first house built in Midland Township. 

For several years less than half a dozen white ^ 
families were living in the county. The Indians and *^ 
French traders were numerous, but no attempts toward 
improving the land were made except to clear a few ( '- 
acres of the underbrush and " deaden " the large 
trees. A few potatoes and other vegetables were 
grown, but the chase was depended upon for supplies, 
which were obtained from Saginaw by means of a 
canoe, there being no roads for transportation of 
goods. 

Frank S. Burton was one of the early comers to 
this county, he having arrived in March, 1856. To 
him we are indebted for many interesting items con- 
cerning tht early settlements. The Townsends, 
Cronkrights, and a few others, were squatted along 
the Chippewa at that date, and John Larkin had 
made his location here a year or two previous. 

Charley Rodd, the half-breed Indian who was 
afterward the first Sheriff of Isabella County, started 
a saloon in 1855, in a little store in a small clearing 
on the " Indian Reserve," which now constitutes a 
part of the farm of Mr. Geo. F. Ball. 

Doubtless there were others that still survive, who 
at that time were domiciled in log cabins niched in 



.^ijggjr— 4i^^(^^j 



^-r^^m^^- 




^7<mmm^ 



-i^^c(®vii 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^ 



small clearings, the whole of which was surrounded 
^ by and embosomed in the old, solemn and seemingly 
i'^ everlasting forest. The locality now designated as 
Midland City was at that day only a lumbering 
camp, which bore the euphonious title of "The 
Forks." The only buildings standing at that time 
inside of the present corporate limits, were a rude 
lumber shanty, with stables and other outbuildings, 
which occupied the site of the cemetery. The camp 
belonged to the Copelands, Ripley and Stewart, who 
employed Timothy Jerome as their agent. He, al- 
though a resident of Saginaw, is one of the best 
known men in Midland County. 

There were two or three other points upon the 
Tittabawassee where the company above mentioned 
had begun catting and hauling pine and maintained 
camps. One was below the junction of the Tobacco 
with the Tittabawassee, in township i6 north, of 
range i west. This camp was called " Sixteen;" and 
although it has enjoyed other and better titles since, 
and is now appropriately styled " Edenville," still the 
old name clings to it, and many will never call it by 
any other cognomen than " Si.xteen." 

The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors was 
held Aug. 13, 1855, — H. C. Ashman, Chairman; Ed- 
win P. Jennings, Clerk; and John A. Whitman, 
Treasurer. The assessment roll for the entire 
county, embracing all the territory described further 
on, amounted to $514,292.04. This assessment was 
approved Oct. 8, of that year, and a tax of one-half 
of one per cent, was levied to meet current expenses. 

The first marriage in Midland County was that of 
Sylvester Erway, so long a Supervisor of Edenville 
Township, and Julia Bowman, daughter of Daniel 
Bowman, one of the first settlers. The ceremony 
was performed by Esquire Abraham Egbert, April 6, 
1855- 

Midland County was organized March 29, 1850, 
but no officers were elected until the amended act of 
the Legislature of Feb. 8, 1855, which provided for 
holding an election. All the territory now included 
in Midland, Bay, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare, Gladwin 
and Roscommon Counties, were then included in 
her boundaries. The first election was held at Mid- 
land, in November, 1855. The officers elected were, 
G. W. Whiting, Sheriff; E. P. Jennings, Clerk; H. 
C. Ashman, Prosecuting Attorney; J. A. Whitman, 
Treasurer; Solon Kumvill, Register of Deeds; Sam- 



) 






>5 



<> 



h 



y 



i^f^As^m^ 




uel Gaskill, Judge of Probate, and George Turner, 
Surveyor. 

The first term of Circuit Court was held in the o'd 
school-house which stands at the corner of Ashman 
and EUswortli Streets. The members of the Bar at 
that time consisted of Henry C. Ashman, Wilbur F. 
Woodworth and G. F. Hemmingway. 

Midland Township was organized in 1853, and the 
first election was held at the house of Joseph Town- 
send, Sr.; the Inspectors of this Election were 
Thomas T. Townsend, Charles Fitzhugh and John 
A. Whitman. 

Below the mouth of l^obacco River about five 
miles, is the farm located by the venerable Abraham 
Egbert, in the year 1851. He was a Canadian, and 
a shrewd although eccentric man. He took great 
pride in the distinction of being the first pioneer of 
the township whicli bore his name, and never lost an 
opportunity of making reference to the fact. This 
township consisted of Congressional townships 16 
north, I west and r and 2 east, and 15 north, i west. 

This territory now comprises the towns of Hope, 
Edenville, Warren and Jerome. When, by an act of 
the Legislature, the name was changed to Jerome, it 
nearly broke the old man's heart. We maintain that 
this was a grievous wrong, and as an impartial his- 
torian we desire to enter our protest against such in- 
justice even at this late date. 

There were many incidents connected with pio- 
neer life with which every reader is familiar, and for 
the present a few incidents relating to the first things 
of importance in the county are noted. 

John A. Whitman was the first Justice of the 
Peace, being elected in 1853. He performed the 
first marriage ceremony in IngersoU Townsliip, while 
officiating in a legal capacity, the parties being Mr. 
John Armon and Miss Margaret McGregor, who were 
married at his house in 1854. 

The first lawsuit in the county was brought before 
him, but the case was settled before coming to trial. 
The plaintiff, a Mr. Hall, suing a man named Chap- 
man for wages due. 

The wolves were quite numerous, and to rid the 
country of the noxious animals, the county paid a 
bounty of $8 for every wolf scalp which was present- 
ed to the County Clerk with a certified statement 
that the wolf was killed in Midland County. The 
first claims of this character were paid Jan. 15, 1856 



A 



EH 



I 





■^T<mm]\^ 



T^rr 



'^ 



J 



() 






o 



''O 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



to Alvin Marsh, Charles Simmons, Sha-gwon-a-bee, 
J. Ock, Miik-ciid-da-kew, Ah-me-me-quong and Naw- 
ge-zick. The county from that date to January, 1S70, 
paid bounties on 296 scalps, amounting to $2,368. 

Nearly all the meat used consisted of venison and 
bear flesh, while the streams abounded in fine fish 
and the forests in wild fowl. 

While the early settlers were not in easy circum- 
stances, yet they fared better than many people who 
lived in adjoining counties remote from a navigable 
stream. There were no wagon roads, it is true, for a 
number of years, but the wheat raised was trans- 
ported to Saginaw in canoes, and flour, groceries and 
dry goods brought home on the return journey. Dan 
Osborne, one of the old veterans now living near the 
village of Midland, was one of the first to run a 
"pole" boat between Midland and Saginaw. He 
worked for a man nearly a year who was running a 
" pole " boat, but, getting no pay, concluded to build 
and run one of his own. He made three trips weekly, 
to and from Saginaw, having two men only to help 
him. He did his own piloting, running his boat 
down streatr. at night while his men slept, thus sav- 
ing a i2-hours run during the day. His scow car- 
ried seven tons, and he had all the work he could 
do. Dan would undoubtedly have become a mill- 
ionaire, had not John Larkin and Capt. Philo Sumner 
built a boat. This was a steamer of 25 tons burden, 
which made three trips each week to Saginaw; but 
it proved too heavy for the river at low water. The 
name of this steamer was "Midland City," with Philo 
Sun.ner, Captain and Dan Osborn, pilot. She was a 
" side-wheeler," and not a very fast boat. The owners 
sold her, and purchased, at Cleveland, a new boat_ 
named " Belle Seymour," which was of very light 
draught, drawing when empty only 18 inches of 
water. Trade was excellent, and this boat made 
regular trips from'the time of her purchase in i860 
until the completion of the Flint &: Fere Marquette 
Railroad. 

The first steamer that ever came as far up the 
Tittabawassee as Midland, was tlie " Buena Vista," a 
stem wheeler, which carried the household goods and 
family of Charles Fitzhugh to the junction of the 
Chippewa with that river. The waters in the spring 
of that year were veiy high, and large boats could 
navigate almost any of the streams. Fitzhugh came 
in 1838, and did some lumbering near the river. He 




is now a resident of Bay City, but is entitled to the 
honor of being the first lumberman in Midland 
County. Of course this was done on a small scale 
compared with the manner in which it is conducted 
to-day. 

The first meeting-house erected in Midland County 
was built one mile south of Midland City, by the 
Methodist fraternity, who were then doing missionary 
work among the Indians that lived on the south bank 
of the river opposite the village of Midland. This 
building is still standing, but is occupied by a family 
who are tenants on the farm of G. F. Ball, Esq. The 
minister spoke in the English language through an 
interpreter, and his labors were very successful, 
nearly all of the ("hip[)ewa and Blackbird Indians 
living in this county at that time being devout 
Christians and an honest, happy people. James 
Kent and wife, who live at this time on the river 
bank opposite where the aforesaid church stood, re- 
marked that no kinder or better neighbors ever lived 
than the Indians who were residents of this county 
at an early day. If any of the family were sick the 
Indian women were always ready to wait upon them. 
Did the men folk need an extra hand to help in 
clearing or other work, the Indians always lent a 
hand. Was a fine buck killed by an Indian, or a 
large fish caught, Mr. Kent's family were sure to 
share in the choicest bits. The minister whose 
labors were crowned with great success, was famil- 
iarly known as " Elder Johnson," and to him is ac- 
corded the honor of being the first man in Midland 
County to preach salvation to either the white man 
or the Indian. 

Captain Philo Sumner and Snyder built 

the first saw-mill in the county, on Snake Creek, 
about three miles north of Midland. This was 
erected in 1858, but, not being very remunerative, 
Snyder became discouraged and sold his interest to 
John Larkin. who moved it to Midland, where it, or 
at least a part of it, is doing duty in the extensive 
mills of Larkin & Patrick. 

Dr. Edwin P. Jennings was the first physician that 
settled in the county. His services were sought for 
by the pioneers for mmy miles around, there being 
no physician nearer than Saginaw. Dr. Jennings 
was also the first county physician, being employed 
in 1856 to do the county business, at the handsome 
salary of $25 per annum. This was not a princely 



K^ 



(^ 



<^. 



¥, 



«0' 

V) 



(o) 




<-m^^ 







■^V<^DDgnil^> 



v^^ 



'-<^i?\/^' 

^>M 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



f 



) 



:-<§ 



V 



sum, yet it must be remembered that very few per- 
sons were living in the county, and most of these 
were able to care for themselves. 

The first school-house in the county was built on the 
northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 
1 8, in Midland Township. In this, Henry C. Ashman 
taught the first school. He was one of the earliest 
settlers, and without doubt was one of the most in- 
telligent men that ever lived in the county. He was 
scrupulously honest, and enjoyed the greatest 
esteem and confidence of the people. He was the 
first Supervisor of Midland County, also the first 
Prosecuting Attorney. It is related that when teach- 
ing school during his younger days, he carried his 
rifle wtth him and frequently would kill one or two 
deer before school hours in the morning. His 
father. Judge Samuel Ashman, was stolen, when a 
child, by the Indians living in the Lake Superior re- 
gion. He lived among them for many years, and 
married a squaw, by whom he had several children. 
Henry Ashman was the only one of them that came 
to this county. He was first married according to 
the Indian custom, but when his wife died, was mar- 
ried to the Chief Pay-nios-e-gay's daughter, whose 
Indian name was " Me-gon-ga-wan," signifying red 
head, she having bright red hair. Mrs. Ashman was 
only a half-breed, and was very intelligent. One of 
her sons is now a resident of Isabella County, and is 
numbered among her best men. 

Joseph Townsend, the drayman at Midland City, 
is one of the oldest residents of the county. He is 
perfectly conversant with its early history, and to him 
the historian is indebted for many valuable facts. 
In this connection our thanks are tendered John A. 
Whitman, the oldest living resident of the county. 

Midland Township was the first one organized. 
Henry Ashman was its first Supervisor, and in loca- 
ting the county seat he showed considerable shrewd- 
ness. Visiting Lansing while the Legislature was in 
session, he succeeded in manipulating that body un- 
til an act was passed authorizing the Board of Super- 
visors and Prosecuting Attorney of Midland County 
to designate the location and drive the stake which 
fixed ihe county seat beyond question. This gave 
him absolute power in the matter, he being both 
Supervisor and Prosecuting Attorney. A fellow 
living in Bay City offered him $4,000 to drive it on 
his lands, l)ut Ashman said Nay. Being a resident 




of Midland, and having some land near the place, 
he, together with a number of chums, Billy Vance, 
Thomas and Joseph C. Townsend, Charles Fitzhugh, 
E. G. Buttles and H. M. Ellsworth, of this county, 
Timothy Jerome and Dan Davis, with other friends 
from Saginaw, were present, and a grand time was 
enjoyed. The Saginaw party came up on a steamer, 
and brought along a basket of champagne, which 
was freely disposed of, and the stake was driven 
upon the site now occupied by the court-house. 
The whole party became gloriously full without ex- 
ception, and the stake was baptized with a generous 
portion of the precious grape juice, Billy Vance be- 
ing the first to break a bottle of champagne upon 
it. The location and certified designation of the 
county seat was filed Oct. 13, 1856, and no effort 
was ever made to remove it from Midland until 
March 6, 1872, when Supervisor L. F. Smith, of 
Lincoln Township, offered a resolution to the Board 
of Supervisors praying that the county seat be re- 
moved to Averill Station in the township of Lincoln. 
Tlie resolution was tabled, and to this day has not 
been taken up. Mr. Smith did what he could for 
his constituency, but the people of the county are 
not yet ready to take the county seat from Midland 
and drop it in any of the neighboring villages. 

Midland County was attached to Saginaw County 
for municipal and judicial purposes until its organiza- 
tion in 1850. At that date only one township (Mid- 
land) was organized, but others were soon erected. 
Egbert Township was the second, Ingersoll the third, 
which was followed by the organization of Coe and 
Chippewa Townships, both of which are now a part 
of Isabella County. The territory embraced in Eg- 
bert has been previously mentioned. The first elec- 
tion was held Oct. 20, 1855, at the house of Abra- 
ham Egbert, in honor of whom it was named. The 
judges of that election were Abraham Egbert, Jacob 
Hagar and Daniel Bowman. David Burton was the 
first Supervisor, followed by Daniel Davis, who served 
in 1856-7 and until its re-organization in 1858. 

The aggregate valuation of the county, both real 
and personal, in 1855. was $574,292.04, and the sal- 
aries of county officers amounted, all told, to $600: 
$250 supplied the wants of the poor, and the cur- 
rent expenses of the county were defrayed by the ex- 
penditure of $1,721. 

John Larkin's house was used by the county 
officers, there being no court-house. The Super- 



<^ 



c 



( 



^^D!i§niif>^ — ^'^^ 




m 



b 



>5^ti^ 



■^v4:nn^iDf^v 



NiSP 






*a: 



(l) 



«^|P9 



MDILAND COUNTY. 



381 




visors' record shows that in 1856 $6,000 in county 
bonds were voted to be negotiated, and money there- 
by procured to erect a suitable building for county 
purposes. Henry C. Ashman was Deputy County 
Treasurer at that time, and was appointed a com- 
mittee of one to attend to the matter. 

Plans and specifications presented by Timothy 
Jerome were adopted, but no definite contract was 
made until the spring of 1857, when Jerome took the 
$6,000 in bonds, drawing 10 percent., payable in 10 
years, and commenced the erection of the present 
building. This when completed was objected to by 
the Board of Supervisors, and Jerome was obliged lo 
make some alterations before they would accept it. 

There being but few roads and no bridges, the 
county was asked by her people' to make a ferry 
across the Tittabawassee, and the Board of Super- 
visors appropriated $150, in October, 1857, for the 
purpose of building a ferry scow. 

The line of crossing was to be the State road lead- 
ing from Midland through Isabella County. Charles 
Cronkright built the boat, and Leonard Wilkinson 
was appointed to attend the same. Rates were also 
fixed at that meeting for ferriage. Footmen were 
charged three cents; single teams, six cents; double 
teams, ten cents ; cattle, sheep and swine, ten cents. 
This rate was to last from April 20 to Nov. 20, after 
which double the above rates were to be charged. 
The ferry was made free in 1858, but for years it was 
a source of annoyance to the Board of Supervisors, 
it being a hard matter to get a good man to attend it. 
The penuriousness of the Board in the expenditures 
for this ferry is surprising, they always appropriating 
only money enough to pay about half the wages that 
would have secured a fit man for the place. 

The first county election was held in Midland 
July 3, 1855, at the house of Dr. Edwin Jennings. 
Less than two dozen votes were cast. Dr. Jennings' 
house was a small log cabin, which stood near the 
upper bridge. The unpretentious structure has long 
since been torn down to make room for more modern 
improvements. 

Li 1856, the names of Dan Davis and Charles 
Perkins both appear on the pay-roll of the Supervisors' 
journal as Supervisors of Egbert Township. As 
neither of them is living it cannot be decided which 
was entitled to the honor. 

After the court-house was completed, a spasm of 



public improvement came over the Board of Super- 
visors, and they were determined to have things fixed 
up in grand style about the county capitol. They 
passed the following resolution : 

Resolvci/, That a committee be appointed to ac- 
cept of the ferry and scow, and they also have power 
to procure the neccessary rope to stretch across the 
river upon as advantageous terms as possible. Also 
that they have power to cause the rubbish around the 
court-house square to be cleared off, and all un nec- 
cessary trees, etc., and to cause the rubbish to be 
carried off tlie s(]uare. 

D. M. R. Wilson, Clerk. 
Coe Township, in Isabella County, had been for 
several years under the jurisdiction of this county 
previous to the organization of Chippewa Township, 
which was done Oct. 12, 1858. It was a part of Coe 
and within the limits of Midland. The first election 
held in this township was at the house of William F. 
Payne, who, with Langdon Bently and John Fraser, 
were Judges of Election. 

Jan. 4, 1S60, a settlement was made between the 
counties of Midland and Isabella, the latter county 
having been organized by an act of the Legislature. 
Midland agreed to account to the State for all State 
tax liable to be paid by Isabella in 1859 and i860. 
Charles D. Searrin, Sylvester Erway and Samuel D. 
Gaskill appended their names as members of the 
committee from Midland, and P. H. Estee and N. C. 
Payne, from Isabella. After this settlement, Isabella 
County recovered $10,408 from Midland County 
which at the date of settlement neither county had 
ever dreamed of. This money built the present 
court-house in Isabella. 

The territory now embraced in Clare, Gladwin and 
Roscommon Counties-was formerly attached to Mid- 
land County for judicial and municipal purposes, and 
was detached at the date of their organization as 
counties. 

Previous to March 16, 1S63, the then unorganized 
county of Clare was attached to the county of Isa- 
bella for judicial and municipal purposes. At the 
same date, the east half of the then unorganized 
county of Gladwin, and the east half of C^are County, 
was organized and named the township of Gladwin. 
This township was attached to Midland County for 
governmental purposes. This town was continued 
for two years, when the east half of Clare was divided 
into two townships, called Grant and Sheridan. Clare 
was formally organized as a county by an act of the 



(^ 



^ 






j;:^. 



m. 




^DD^DOriX- 



^^^ 




382 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



Legislature March 16, 187 i, at which time the towns 
of Grant and Sheridan were detached from Midland. 
For the two years which these towns remained at- 
tached to this county, she had to pay a total of $7,- 
134 32. This was rather an expensive luxury. Ros- 
common was detached from Midland County entirely 
in 1874, since which time lawsuits and other costs 
have accrued between the counties, they being un- 
able to compromise upon the amounts due Roscom- 
mon. In the Hill of 1883, the committee appointed 
to settle the matter compromised, Midland County 
greeing to pay $6,000 in full of all demands to date. 



The disbursements of the county for 1855 was 
$1,721, which included every cent of expense attach- 
ing to official salary, etc. 

In 1883, the increase shown by the clerks' record 
foots up the handsome sum of $55,925.70, wliich 
amount only pays current expenses. Yet this in- 
crease is not out of proportion to the rise in real 
estate and the need of expenditures as the county 
becomes more densely populated. Indeed, Midland 
County is managed by her officials in the most econ- 
omical manner, as proven by her records. 



glfii^Iasx 











.^oAl'^. ii^'tr 



W^-v:^^ 



WirWxMSr 






m 




=s«— ""«f*>i-y^l 



cOo 



f-3 

Midland bein 
by IngersoU 
numbers and 



the most interesting 

t- Jl features of this woik is a brief 

(■■7 but concise histoiy of each 

;jjj Township, from the date of 

■ t^^ its organization, together with 

the coming of its first settlers, 

so far as can be ascertained. Perhaps 

errors may exist in some unimporlaiit 

particulars, but in such cases nothing 

more definite can be procured. .\11 

the .Supervisors' names appear attached 

to the townships in wh'ch they have 

served, which, with the number of 

terms, make it especially interesting. 

g first organized, heads the list, followed 

and the others in the order of their 




Midland Township. 

5IDLAND Township is numbered 14 south 
|S and 2 east, and is bounded on the north 
i|S}£l '^ by Larkin Township, on the east by Bay 
J ,^'A\ County, on the south by IngersoU Township 
•j''" and on the west by Homer Township. The 
Pine, Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers unite 
inside its boundaries, and millions of feet of pine 
logs are annually floated down these streams, where, 
uniting with the Tittabawassee, a jam of logs is 
formed extending to Saginaw. From Midland City, 
which is the only village in this township, the river 
flows in a southerly direction through IngersoU Town- 
ship, at the southeast corner of which it enters Sag- 
inaw County. In Midland Township are several 
fine farms, but Hope and Edenville Townships are 



1^ 






«^ 



(^ 



T— I 



g«®- 



^9-^^. 



\m 



|r^A^ 








:€^- 



-;2t^i ^- - u v C^g n :-^ n ii>5>v 



>*"^(S^tlliv" 



-«# 



i^^^c(®vii 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



£1 



> 



1=3 



more largely devoted to agriculture than even tliis 
township, lying in such close proximity to the county 
seat. 

All cereals grow well in Midland, and better soil 
for the production of vegetables cannot be found in 
the county. It being the first town organized in the 
county, and the first settled, it naturally follows that 
Midland Township should take a front rank. 

The first settlers are mentioned elsewhere, and all 
of them were men of sterling worth. Of all the 
people who have lived in the county from its organ- 
ization, none perhaps has done so much to push her 
business enterprises as John Larkin. He has always 
been first to favor any measure looking toward the 
advancement of mercantile or social interests, and 
has always aided with time and money everything 
which benefited or added to the growth of the village. 

The gentlemen who have ably represented Mid- 
land on the Board of Supervisors, together with tiieir 
terms of service, are mentioned below : 

SUPERVISORS. 

Henry C. Ashman ... 1855-6 

E. G. Buttles 1857 

Charles D. Searrin 1858-60 

N. T. Carr 1861-2 

Asa Bacon 1863-4 

Sherman Olmstead 1865 

Asa Bacon 1866 

Henry D. Rogers 1867-8 

Sherman Olmstead 1869 

E. P. Jennings 1870 

Lyman Church 1 87 i 

Henry Hart 1872-3 

E. P. Jennings 1874-5 

J. \V. Cochrane 1876 

D. W. Chase 1877-80 

George Patrick 1881 

R. W. Clason 1882 

John Larkin 1883 

Ira Fales 1884 




i-. 



Ingersoll Township. 



f NGERSOLL Township lies in the south- 
eastern corner of Midland County. It is 
numbered 13 north and 2 east, and is 
bounded on the north by Midland Township, 
on the east and south by Saginaw County and 
on the west by Mt. Haley Township. 
The northeastern part of this township is crossed 




by the Tittabawassee River, which flows south, then 
east into Sagniaw County. Ingersoll is reckoned as 
one of the best agricultural townships in the county, 
the east half being an especially fine farming district. 
Ingersoll contains no towns; it being so short a dis- 
tance from Midland City, that point is made its chief 
market. Smith's Crossing, on the boundary line be- 
tween the two townships as well as jjetween Midland, 
Saginaw and Bay Counties, is a stopping place for all 
passenger trains, making it convenient for the farmers 
going to and from Midland City. 

At one time Pay-mos-e-gay, the chief of the Black- 
bird Indians, made his headquarters on the banks of 
the Tittabawassee, opposite the farm of John Whit- 
man. The Indians lived there for at least 30 years 
in undisturbed peace. The bottoms along this river 
afforded tliem abundant pasturage for their ponies 
and abounded with game of all kinds. These lands 
were accounted their choicest hunting-grounds, and 
hundreds of deer, bear and smaller game have been 
captured in its precincts. 

John Whitman was the first settler in the townshi|). 
He located here in 1844, and his daughter, Jane 
Whitman, now Mrs. Jos. Barton, of Homer Town- 
ship, was the first white child born in Ingersoll 
Township. This event occurred in 1844. John 
Annabel settled here in 1867. Among other comers 
were Geo. Davis, Eli Bailey, L. P. Bailey and 
Joseph Lane. 

The township was organized Oct. i, 1855. The 
first election was held at tlie house of David Cramp- 
ton, Oct. 20, 1855. Charles S. Blodgett, Martin P. 
Crampton and Esial Chamberlin were the Inspectors. 

The history of the liunber interest in Ingersoll is 
but a repetition of that of the other townships in 
Midland County. Hundreds of acres of dead pine 
still cover the ground in some localities, which will 
in due time be manufactured into fencing and build- 
ing material. 

The Supervisors of this township have all been 
good and intelligent men, and many of them have 
served a number of terms. Their names and terms 
served are annexed : 

SUPERVISORS. 

Martin P. Crampton 1855 

Wm. A. Copeland 1856 

S. D. Gaskill 1857 

Charles S. Blodgett 1858 

S. D. Gaskill 1859-60 




vS 



9 



c^: 







^m^ 



^mmm<>^^ 



Ci- 



4^^<<® 




# 



<^Dil^{lil^> 



i^T- 



384 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



'CT 






% 



(^ 



^ 

(^ 



Augustus Crownover 1S61 

S. D. Gaskill 1862-4 

Wm. P. Phetteplace 1865-7 1 

S. D. Gaskill 1872 

Wm. Atcliison 1873 

S. D. (iaskill 1874-5 

Wm. P. Phetteplace T876 

C T- Winslovv 1S77 

A. R. McMillan 1878-9 

Joseph T- Winslow 1880 

A. R. iNIcMillan 188 1 

Joseph I. Winslow 1882 

Steel E."lX-an 1883 

A. R. McMillan 1884 






>'tY^<- 



Jerome Township. 




jfcf EROME Township is located near the cen- 
ter of the county of Midland, being num- 
bered 15 north and 1 west. It is bounded 
on the north by Edenville, east by Lincoln and 
Homer Townships, on the south by Lee Town- 
ship, on the west by Geneva Township. 
The Tittabawassee River flows into Jerome from 
Edenville Township on the north. The stream takes 
a southerly and then easterly course, and leaves this 
township at the point where the line separates Lin- 
coln from Homer. The Salt River rises in Isabella 
County, flows east and enters Jerome near tlie north- 
eastern corner of the township, whence it takes a 
southeasterly direction and empties into the Titta- 
bawassee. 

The productions of Jerome are lumber, grain, 
vegetables and game, such as bear and deer, the 
former valuable for its flesh, which is used as food, and 
for its skin, of which robes are made ; also, bear oil 
in large quantities are obtained from this animal. 
From the deer, venison is procured, and the hides 
are used for making gloves, moccasins, etc. 

Jerome contains the village of Sanford, situated in 
the eastern part of the township, on the Tittabawas- 
see River, and at a place where this stream is crossed 
by the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, thus giving 
to this town the advantages of both river and railroad 
traffic. Communication is kept up between this 




point and the village of Edenville several miles north 
by means of the stage, which carries all mail both to 
the latter place and Wright's post-office. Sanford 
was platted in the summer of 1870, by Charles S. 
Sanford. Wells, Stone & Co. erected tiie tirst store 
in the village; Geo. Higgins was the first blacksmith; 
the first physician was A. E. Rockwell; the first ser- 
mon was preached by Rev. Cogsall, of the Metho- 
dist denomination, in tlie school-house. Jacob Se- 
guin opened the first hotel, and Charles S. Sanford 
built one soon afterward, which was destroyed bv 
fire May 15, 1884. The Flint & Pere Marquette 
Railroad was completed as far as Sanford in the 
spring of 1871. The first postmaster was Phineas 
Hamilton. 

This village has about 100 inhabitants, and is a 
convenient trading point for lumbermen and agri- 
culturists in that vicinity. 

A salt well was sunk on section 24, in 1841, under 
the supervision of Prof Douglass Houghton, the 
State Geologist. This was the first salt well dug in 
the State. 

Geo. Butts was the first settler in the township, 
and located on section 25 ; Charles S. Sanford came 
next, locating on section 24, where the village named 
in his honor now stands. The Board of Supervisors 
erected the township of Jerome in the year 1856. In 
1862, a resolution was passed by that body by which 
townships 15, 16 and 17 north, of range 1 west, and 
townshiji 16 north, of range 2 west, were added to 
Jerome. These tracts were afterward organized into 
separate townsliiiis. 

Jerome has been successful in electing mer. of 
good judgment and ability to represent her in the 
county Board of Supervisors. Tlieir names are : 

SUPERVISORS. 

Charles Perkins 1S57-8 

Sylvester Erway 1859-64 

Geo. B. Bard well , 1865-7 

Sylvester Erway 1868 

Geo. B. Bardwell 1869-70 

E. N. Burton 1 87 1-2 

Geo. B. Bardwell 1873 

L. G. Miner '874-5 

Wm. Magee 1876-7 

L. G. Miner 1S78 

Wm. Magee 187 9-84 



<e^ 



C') 



^ 



c^: 






^ 




m\i<^ 



A /-s 



•^T 



#^^ 




i^j-r^^ 




-:2^s: 6V<>I) II ^: D lls>V 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



38s 



OCX? 



Lincoln Township. 



A' 



V 

> 



INCOLN Township is numbered 15 north 

and r east, and is bounded on the north 

by Hope, on the east by Larkin and on the 

south by Homer Township, and partly separated 

from the latter by the Tittabawassee River, and 

on the west by Jerome and Edenville Town- 

The surface of Lincoln generally is just sufficiently 
undulating to afford the soil good drainage. Some 
of the finest farms in the county are to be found in 
this township, the soil being especially adapted to the 
cultivation of wheat, oats and potatoes. Clover 
grows in abundance, thus giving good pasturage to 
cattle, horses and sheep. Wool is also an important 
article of merchandise, and large flocks of slieep are 
grazing in the beautiful meadows. 

Averill is the largest village in the township, and 
is located in the southern part, on the Flint & Pere 
Marquette Railroad. Harrison Averill gave to the 
railroad company the right of way through that sec- 
tion, and the village was named in liis honor. It is 
on the Tittabawassee River and millions of feet of 
lumber pass through this point for the lower mills 
and .Saginaw. Wells, Stone & Co. built the first 
store and put in a large stock of general merchan- 
dise. The village was platted in 1870, the samj 
year the railroad was completed to that point. M. O 
McFarland has a store and hotel near the depot, and 
is doing a good business. He is Postmaster also; 
the office is in his building. N. T. Stratton is pro- 
prietor of a good hotel, and also keeps a full line of 
dry goods, boots and shoes and groceries. 

Wright & Ketcham's headquarters in the north- 
ern part of the township comprises a small village of 
less than 100 inhabitants, the buildings, barns, store 
houses, etc., belonging to the firm. This is not only 
a convenient supply depot for the employes of this 
firm, but the farmers living within reasonable dis- 
tance from it also make it their trading point. We 

yd make only a brief mention of it here, as a full de- 

^fv scription is given elsewhere. 

\~^ The township of Lincoln was organized March 20, 

._? i86r, and the first election was held at the house of 



Elien Wright, who, with Charles Liman and Orville 
Hosmer, were Judges of Election, which took place 
in April, 1861. Lincoln was disorganized by an act 
of the Legislature and attached to Hope in 1877. 
Li October of the following year it was again erected, 
and the first election after its re-organization was held 
on the first Monday in April, 1879, at the residence 
of L. F. Smith, who, with Frank S. Stratton and 
Harrison Averill, were appointed Inspectors of Elec- 
tion. 

The names of the Supervisors of this township 
and the terms each has served are as follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 

Charles Inman 1861-3 

Francis Green 1864-5 

Charles Inman 1S66-7 

James W. Riggs 1868-9 

" J. Brewster 1870 



L. F. Smith 187 i 

Wm. Tinker 1873-4 

G. W. Horn 1875 

L. F. Smith 187 6-7 

H. B. Hamilton 1879 

Charles Inman 1880-t 

H. B. Hamilton 18S2-3 

Charles Inman 1884 



Jasper Township. 

ASPER Township occupies the southeast- 

_ ern corner of Midland County, and is 

3^' ^ bounded on the north by Greendale and 

east by Porter Townships, on the south by 

Gratiot, and on the west by Isabella Counties. 

It is numbered 13 north and 2 west. The 

Pine River crosses the southeastern corner of Jasper, 

and is the principal stream. This township ranks 

with those that are second in the production of 

grains, vegetables, etc. 

Nicholas Depue was the first settler in Jasper. 
He bought land here in 1854 and settled on section 
31. Soon after his arrival his two sons, Marshall 
and Wm. T. Depue, came. In i860 Thomas Mar- 
tin arrived and settled on section 30. Both Martin 
and the Depues came from Warren, Trumbull Co., 
Ohio. In i860 Alson L. Bailey found his way to 
Jasper and settled on section 34. 

Ida, the daughter of Wm. T. Depue, was the first 




! 



(^ 



^ 

< 

d 



fG) 







€^^ 



>^%kS- 



"7 



<^llin;t:llll>>^ 



-«s^ 



386 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



) 



>5 



child born in the new township. Her birth occurred 
in tlie spring of 1S60. 

I Miss Emily Martin, now Mrs. Geo. Smock, taught 
Ihe first school in Jasper. 

I The township was organized March 2.0, iS6i. 
The first election was held at the house of Alson L. 
Bailey, on the fust Monday in April, 1S61. A. L. 
Bailey, Levi Caldwell and Nicholas Depue were 
Judges of this Election. Mr. Bailey was elected 
first Justice of the Peace. At a meeting of the 
Board of Supervisors held Feb. 4, 1862, townships 
14 and 15 north and 2 west were added to Jasper. 
Later these townships were organized into Greendale 
and Geneva. A town house was erected in 1873 for 
the convenience of the citizens of the township. 

This is one of the most promising townships of 
Midland County. It contains many farms which 
are well cultivated and improved. The soil in this 
section is excellent, and in quality it is second to 
none in the count)-. 

The names of the Supervisors of Jasper, together 
with the number of terms served in this capacity, are 
given : 

SUPERVISORS. 

\\m. T. Depue 1S61-3 

Marshall S. Depue 1864 

John P. Balch 1865-7 

John C. Sias 1 868-70 

k. C. Martin 1870-2 

John C. Sias 1876 

A. J. Martin 1873-84 



'onasnm^' 



^M—^-^^^aumt^ 



Homer Township. 




r. 
I- 

T 



LOMER Township is situated in the eastern 
part of the county of Midland, and is num- 
bered 14 north and i east. It is bounded 
on the north by Lincoln Township, and partly 
i separated from it by the Tittabawassee River, 
I on the east by Midland and south by Mt. Haley 
Townships, and on the west by Lee and Jerome 
Townships. 

The Tittabawassee, Chippewa and Pine flow across 
Homer, the first forming part of the township line 
between Lincoln and Homer, the other two flowing 



northeast and uniting with the first in the township 
of Midland. Homer ranks with Jasper, Porter and 
Mt. Haley in importance and extent of agriculture. 

Charles Cronkright came to Homer Township 
June I, 1837, liaving walked all the way from Sagi- 
naw with his " bundle " on his back, in company with 
Samuel Gordon, who now lives in l\[idland Town- 
ship. Mr. Cronkright was the first se'.tler in Homer. 
Jacob Wiliz came in the year 1852, and about this 
time Anthony Barton, Wni. Kelly, Sylvester Vibber, 
Seneca Wells, Sullivan Bugby, John E. WiUard, 
Leonard Fletcher and Levi Foreman settled in this 
township. 

Wm. Cronkright was the first male child born in 
Homer, and also in the county, his birth occurring 
June 25, 1839. 

The first wedding was that of Wm. Kelly and Eliz- 
abeth Barton. 

The first minister was the Rev. — Green, of the 
Methodist persuasion. He preached the first sermon 
in Homer Township, at the school-house in District 
No. 2. 

This township was organized Jan. 13, 1862. The 
first election was held at the house of Chades Cronk- 
right, on the first Monday in April, 1862. Wm 
Kelly, Sullivan Bugby and Charles Lyde were Judges 
of ihe Election. Jacob Wiltz, Anthony Barton, Wm. 
Kelly and Sullivan Bugby were the first Justices of 
Peace. 

Below are appended the names of all of the Super- 
visors of Homer, together with the number of terms 
served by each. They are all men of undoubted 
ability and their manifest interest in the progress and 
development of their township has been well appre- 
ciated by those who have chosen them to this oflice. 
They are : 

SUPERVISORS. 



A 



c< 






^V^:^^^f|- 



William Kelly 1862-5 

F. E. Willard 1866-7 

Sullivan Bugby 1S68 

F. E. Willard 1869 

A. M. Allen . ..1870 

O. Hosmer r87 i 

A. M. Allen.. 1872-6 

H. G. Fountaine 1877-80 

William Kelly 1881 

H. G. Fountaine 1882 

Joel H. Brown 18S3 

J. Brewer 1884 






^ 



'' 
/N 



>: 



V 



) 



% 




MIDLAND COUNTY. 



387 



..<^^|,^^.. 




Mount Haley Township. 

OUNT Haley is situated in the southern 
part of the eastern lialf of Midland 
^Sl ''^ County, and is nuniliered 13 north and i 
east. Its northern boundary is Homer, and 
its eastern Ingersoll Township ; its southern is 
.Saginaw County, and its western Porter and 
Lee Townships. 

The nortliern half of Mt. Haley contains some 
low land; the southern half is liigher. The only 
river of importance is the Pine, which crosses the 
northwest corner of the township. A large portion 
of the land is a good, heavy clay, and in the ex- 
cellence of agricultural products it is destined to be- 
come one of the best in the county. The most 
thickly settled parts are the eight southern sections. 

The first settlers were Joseph Barton, who came in 
1865, and is now livingon section 4; Michael Doyle, 
who came in 1868, and has a farm on section 34; 
Edward McGowan, now residing on section 26 ; John 
and Patrick Hines, Philip Phahee, Thomas Wilson, 
Philip Dougherfy, Edward Girard, Champ Utter and 
G. W. Frost. The first settler between Alma and 
the Chippewa River was Father Anthony, of Mt. 
Haley Township. 

Joseph Barton, in relating his experiences of pio- 
neer days, says he hauled 1,600 pounds of provisions 
in a wagon from Saginaw to Alma, the trip taking 
him four days, and Mr. Ely, his ejuployer, paid liim 
$3 per day and $1.50 to another man to hel|) him. 

The first birth in the township was that of Ellen 
Barton, Nov. 17, 1865. The first marriage was in 
the same year, when Mr. Champ Utter and Mrs. 
Amelia (Smith) Welton were united in matrimony. 
The first death recorded was that of the infant of 
Mr. and Mrs. Utter in 1867. 

This township was organized June 19, i87r, and 
the first election was held at the house of Philip 
Dougherty, Aug. i, 187 1, with Edward McGowan, 
Jno. Haley and Jno. Hines as Judges of Election. 

The Supervisors of Mt. Haley, in the order of 
their election, are given below, and among them may 
be traced a number of Irish-Americans, who make 
the best financiers in the country, as proven by the 





% 



excellent manner in wliicii Mt. Haley's affairs have 
been conducted. 

SUPERVISORS. 

P. H. Murphy t87i-3 

Ed. McGowan 1874 

John Martin 1875 

M. W. Rockford 1876 

P. H. Murphy 1877 

A. J. Ingersoll 1878-9 

Ed. McGowan 1 880-3 

Duncan Wayne 1884 

-5— '^/V^S|••|^ ^ 

Porter Township. 

\ ORTER Township is situated in the south- 
ern part of Midland County and is num- 
ered r3 north and i west. It is bounded 

jTD on the north by Lee 'I'ownship, on the east by 

)^ Mount Haley Township and Saginaw County, 
on the south by Gratiot County, and on the 
west by Jasper Township. 

It is a finely wooded section, but the natural order 
of events will transform the fine forests into fields of 
corn, wheat and oats, and gardens of fine vegetables. 
The Pine River crosses this township diagonally from 
southwest to northeast, its course being northeast, 
and in Midland Township it unites with the Chippe- 
wa. Along this river many settlers have located 
their homes, and lumber camps are scattered over the 
tract drained by it and its tributaries. 

Porter contains no towns or railroads, and but 
one post-office, bearing the name of the township. 

Porter was organized Jan. 6, 1868. Lewis K. 
Brewer, Samuel Sias, Theodore A. Brewer, David and 
Almison Robinson, Geo. A. Smith, Wm. McNeil, 
Wm. E. Wilson, John McCormick, Geo. W. Cole 
John McCummon, Wm. Jarvis and R. T. Puffer were 
residents and free- holders at the time, and their 
names appear as petitioners asking that the territory 
above described be organized into a township. The 
first election was held Jan. 25, 1869, at the house of 
Lewis K. Brewer, who, with Geo. A. Smith and B. T. 
Puffer, were Judges. 

Porter ranks among those second in inipwrtance in 
the county, and will soon become a fine agricultural 
region. 

It is needless to add that the names of the Super- 
visors attached to this brief history are men of enter- 



v^ 






!^' 






f 



^mM\i<>^- 



1 

V '■■■' 

I 



yifi 




MIDLAND COUNTY. 



#^f(®vK 



prise, who have developed the town; but ere long 
they will pass away, and it is fitting to remark that 
^ no better men ever graced the Board tlian were those 
I from Porter Township. 

(C)j SUPERVISORS. 

\V. E. Willson 1869-71 

J. D. McCunimon 1872-5 

B. F. Pufier 1S76-7 

Rgbert Potter 1878-81 

B. F. Puffer 1882-3 

Wm McNeil 1884 



Hope Township. 



i^ 



V 



OPE Township lies in the northeastern cor- 
ner of Midland County, contains double 
""^ the number of acres of any other township 
in the county, and is numbered 16 north 
and [ and 2 east. Its north boundary is Glad- 
win, and its eastern Bay County, its south- 
ern Lincoln and Larkin Townships, and its western 
Edenville Township and Gladwin County. 

Hope contains many nice farms, well cultivated 
and producing fine crops of grain. Much of the 
township is covered with a heavy growth of timber, 
principally hard wood. The choice pine trees are 
being rapidly sacrificed in the interest of the lumber 
trade, although not less than fifty millions of feet 
will yet be taken from this township. 

Besides the immensfe quantities of lumber which 
are procured from Hope and the good farming lands 
that are developed, some of the settlers find time in 
the dull season of the year to go bear- hunting, and 
these hunts often result in the capture of a good 
supply of bear meat. John Schearer has had con- 
siderable e-xperience in this line, and his expeditions 
generally end successfully. In the fall of the year 
1872 he killed three black bears; in 1874 he sliot 
eight more from trees in the forest where they were 
busily engaged in eating acorns. In the course of 
five years he killed 16 in all. He sold the skins of 
these animals for from Is to $8 apiece, and the bear 
oil for %\. per pint. From one bear he obtained five 
gallons, or 40 pints, of oil, but the average amount 
yielded by a bear was from two to three gallons. 

The first settlers in Hope were Orrin Maltby and 
Joseph Rooker, who located on section 15 in 1856. 

rv®)>«^#^« ^^^^ — ^^■in n 



Wni. McCrary, the oldest resident now living in the 
township, settled in 1856, on section 22, where he 
has since lived, superintending the work on his mag- 
nificent farm, which he has cleared by his own hard 
labor, and now lives in the enjoyment of one of the 
finest tracts of land in the township. 

The first marriage that occurred in Hope was that 
of Silas Wright and Louisa Erway, in i860. The 
ceremony was performed by Justice Egbert. 

The first school was taught by Alfleta Green, in a 
log cabin near the house of Mr. Harding Mills. 

Clyde Hosner's was the first male birth, — occurring 
in the fall of 185 i. The first female birth was that 
of Sibyl Wright, in 1861. 

The first religious society organized was the Bap- 
tist, and Nelson Fraser preached the first sermon for 
that society. Their meetings were held in the old 
log school-house which has been mentioned before. 

The first township meeting was held in the little 
log house now occupied by Silas Wright. The citizens 
established a postoffice in 1S74, and called it "Hope." 
Marshall Carr was the first Postmaster. He carried 
the mail, or paid some one else to do it for him, for 
two yeais. 

The settlers in this township had great trouble in 
procuring provisions. They used teams of oxen, 
with which they crossed the swamps, always carrying 
about a liundred feet of rope and chains to pull them 
out of the mud. The oxen were compelled to swim 
across the rivers, and then the wagons and carts were 
floated over. 

In the year 187 i, E. J. Brewster, with a number of 
others, sent in a petition to the Board of Supervisors, 
beseeching them to organize the township of Hope. 
Their prayer was granted, and the first township elec- 
tion was held Nov. 20, 187 i, witii E. J. Brewster, H. 
Mills and Charles Inman as Judges of Election. 
Hope was formerly included in Midland Township, 
and only the territory known as 16 north and i east 
was first organized as the town of Hope. March 1 1 
1876, township 16 north and 2 east was detached 
from Midland and added to Hoiie, thus making of 
the latter a double township. \\\ the year 1877 the 
town of Lincoln was disorganized by an act of the 
Legislature and attached to Hope; but during the 
fallowing year, 1878, it was re-organized as a separate 
township. 

Hope ranks among those towns first in importance 



^, 



c 



^ 



•<■•■ 




m 



■yi\ 






■>^€»s: — 6rv<^^mi^miit>v 



> 






^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




V 



and she has always had capable and intelligent men 
to administer her affairs. There are a number of 
good district schools, provided with excellent teach- 
ers, who are successful educators. 

The Supervisors of Hope are here given, with the 
number of terms eacli has served : 

SUPERVISORS. 

E. J- Brewster 1872-6 

A. J. Raymond 1877-8 

Simon Gleckler 1879-80 

A. J. Raymond 1881 

Timothy Fillmore 1882 

Simon Gleckler 1883-4 

Geneva Township. 

ENEVA Township is situated in tiie west- 
j— jg;^ em part of Midland County, and is num- 
f. bered 15 north and 2 west. Its northern 
j^ boundary is Warren, its eastern. Jerome, its 
southern, Greendale Township, and its western, 
Isabella County. Salt River flows northeast 
across Geneva Township, making fertile the whole of 
this section. This stream abounds in fish, thus af- 
fording to the settlers, as well as to those who come 
to this part of the country every year, recreation and 
fine sport. 

Tlie only village in Geneva is that of North 
Bradley, sometimes called '' Buttonville," in honor of 
Wm. Button, a man who was intimately connected 
with the early advancement of the township and vil- 
lage. The favorable situation of North Bradley, on 
the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, midway be- 
tween the villages of Sanford and Coleman, and its 
pro.ximity to the Salt River, attracts to it good busi- 
ness men, who are fully alive to its interests and prog- 
ress. A good hotel, several store buildings, whose 
owners are carrying on a prosperous business, and a 
postoffice are among the many conveniences which 
the residents and visitors of the village enjoy. 

Wm. Button, together with several other early set- 
tlers, desired that this territory be detached from 
Jasper, of which it was formerly a part, and erected 
as a township. Accordingly, a petition signed by 
these men was handed to the county Board of Super- 
visors, and on June 24, 1873, they organized the 
township of Geneva. The first election was held at 




the school-house, on the first Monday in Aj^ril, 1874, 
with Wm. Button, W. P. Button and Cyrus (Jarr In- 
spectors of Election. 

The Supervisors who have so ably attended to the 
interests of Geneva have been gentlemen of worth 
and integrity, and we here append their names and 
the terms each has served. 

SUPKRVISORS. 

Cyrus T Carr 1874 

W. H. H. Gee 1875-6 

L. Babcock 1877-8 

Wm. Babcock 1879-80 

L. Babcock 1881 

Silas Harcourt 1S82 

L. Babcock 1883-4 



-rSi- 



Warren Township. 

■(''jjOK ARREN Townshi[j lies in the northwest- 
j^^aL em corner of Midland County. It is 
^ti^'L * numbered 16 north, of range 2 west, and 
<> is bounded on the north by Gladwin County, 
on the east by Edenville, on the south by 
Geneva Township and on the west by Isabella 
County. 

Much of the land in Warren Township has been 
robbed of its fine forest of valuable timber; and 
where this felling of trees has not been immediately 
followed by an attempt to clear out the stumps that 
remained, a thick growth of underbrush and species 
of poplar has taken their places. In point of agri- 
culture and development of the soil, Warren ranks 
among the second best townships in the county. 
Many of the farms are well developed and highly 
cultivated for this section of the country, it being 
comparatively new. A number of years are required 
to cut down trees, clear the land of stumps, stones, 
etc., before the beautiful fields of waving grain, the 
fine orchards of richly laden fruit-trees and the 
lu.xuriant pastures can be brought to a state of per- 
fection. 

The first township meeting was held on the first 
Monday in February, 1872, at the Exchange Hotel 
in ("oleman. Jonathan Pierce, who was the first 
settler in the township, N. S. Furgeson and L. H. 
Higgins were Inspectors of Election. The first 
Justice of the Peace was W. S. Hubbell. 



V^ 



9 






* 



\\®^^^^ 



.^i-^ 



mmm^ 




A-O 




■2*!^^?^ 



-i=rV 



<i^iIlIl^o;iiD>> 



"v" 



r^^^'isr 



MIDLAM) COUNTY. 







':^ 



V 

> 



The first marriage was that of Levi McComb and 
Lucinda Brown. The ceremony was performed by 
Justice Hubbell, in the summer of 1873. 

The Rev. — Cogsall, a Methodist minister, de- 
livered the first sermon, in the winter of 1872. 

The first Postmaster was Jonathan Pierce. The 
office was kept in the room in which Delia Pierce 
taught the first school. 

The first cider and beer sold in the township was 
kept in a little building where Simon's store now 

stands, and was sold by Enos Barnes and 

Mitchell, in 1872. 

COLEMAN 

Is the only village in the township, and deserves 
more than a passing notice, it being the second 
village in the county both in size and commercial 
importance. The land around the village of Cole- 
man was purchased of the United States Govern- 
ment by A. W, Wright. Mr. Wright bought the land 
for speculation, but the country was not settled very 
fast, and, after holding his purchase some years, he 
sold about a thousand acres to Seymour Coleman, at 
a slight advance on the price which he had paid the 
Government. 

In 1870 the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad was 
completed to this point, then a dense forest, and on 
the first construction train that reached Coleman 
was also the first actual settler, Jonathan Pierce, 
who came to look at the country and seek a home. 
Being favorably impressed with his observations, Mr. 
Pierce concluded to remain here, and went to house- 
keeping in a shanty built by the railroad com[)any 
for the accommodation of the men working on the 
road. The company contracted with Mr. P. to 
board their men, which he did during tiie winter of 
1870-1, iiis wife, who was living at Midland, prepar- 
ing and cooking the food and sending it to this place 
every day. Later in the season he employed a man 
and wife to do the work for him at the boarding- 
house while he gave his attention to building a saw- 
mill and dwelling, which latter is now part of the 
" Coleman Exchange " building. The dwelling was 
completed and occupied by his family during the 
holiday season of i87o-i,and in it they have since re- 
sided, adding to it as occasion required. 

In the meantime Mr. Coleman had 1*60 acres of 
the land surveyed and the town platted, giving to 
the railroad company one-half of the town site on 



condition that a station should be built and main- 
tained on the spot it now occupies. 

The ne.\t move was to induce persons to come 
here and locate, and he finally i)revailed upon 
Messrs Wise, Bean iS; Shultz to establish a saw- 
mill here. Work was pushed on this mill, and it 
was completed early in the spring of 1871, a short 
time before Mr. Pierce had his mill ready for work. 
The firm of Wise, Bean & Shultz continued business 
only a few years. Mr. Pierce continued to operate 
his mill until it was destroyed by fire in 1874. 

At the time of the settlement of this place a man 
named Hubbell was running a shingle-mill about a 
mile below, and a Mr. Adams was operating a [lort- 
able saw-mill two miles away. 

The first school in the village was tauglit in 1871, 
by Miss Delia Pierce, and was in a room about 12 
feet square, which now forms a part of the dinijig- 
rooui of the "Coleman Exchange." 

During the year 187 i a postoffice and mail service 
was also established here. .\t first the conductors 
on the railroad carried the mail to and from the town 
in their pockets. 

Tiie village had but slow growth after the first lit- 
tle spurt of e.xcitemenc was over; in fact, the place 
seemed dead for several years. Occasionally some 
one would start up a saw or shingle mill, run it a 
short time and then pull up and move on. Finally 
the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad Company built 
a branch road from here to Mt. Pleasant, the first 
train running into that village on Monday morning, 
Dec. 15,1879. Business men then became attracted 
to the town, mills sprang uj) and the town enjoyed a 
resurrection from its former lethargy. Geo. Miller is 
now running a saw and shingle mill and hoop factory. 
He employs 41 men and manufactures 15,000 feet 
of lumber, 35,000 shingles, 15,000 hoops and 16,000 
headings a day. Geo. Cooper has a saw and shingle 
mill and stave machine, and gets out 6,000 feet of 
lumber, 25,000 shingles and 5,000 staves per day. 
T. B. Simons operates a shingle mill, in which 25 
men find employment and turn out 45,000 shingles a 
day. Mr. Embury also does a thriving business in 
the manufacture of lumber. 

The Coleman Advocate was established in 1883, 
the first issue of which bears date Aug. 11, of that 
year. H. F. Linton is the editor, and through his 
enterprise this paper has been an influential factor in 



% 






(> 



$K 



V 

V) 



(^ 





^^^ 



#s^ 



f 

-It- 

f 






•) 



>5 



^) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



~:^;^^r 



attracting attention to the advantages possessed by 
Coleman as a business center. 

R. A. Baskerville has a new dry-goods and grocery 
store. T. B. Simons has a $6,000 stock of general 
merchandise ; J. Embury has a large stock of goods, 
consisting of dry goods and groceries. S. Bowdish 
has a splendid line of fancy and staple groceries; in 
this store is also located the postoffice, which he 
superintends. 

The "Coleman Exchange" is an excellent hotel, 
the only one in the place without a bar, Mr. J. 
Pierce, the landlord, being a radical lem|)erance 
man. Harvey Deuel is proprietor of the "Deuel 
House," which contains 15 rooms; a livery barn is 
kept in connection with it. A stock of wines, liquors 
and cigars is one of the attractions of this hotel. 
The Junction House, of which James Judge is pro- 
prietor, is a good hotel, containing nine rooms and a 
bar. 

The first harness-maker was Horace J. Knight, 
who commenced business in the village of Coleman 
on Jan. i, 1884. 

The medical profession is represented by 1 )r. 
Budge, the resident physician, and Mrs. C. W. Taylor, 
of Loomis. 

\V. A. Chatterton carries a very large stock of 
drugs and medicines and a complete stock of station- 
ery as well as a full line of cigars and tobacco. Dr. 
Budge has just opened a new drug store and is do- 
ing a good business. There is but one school-house 
in the village ; it is a good and substantial one, but 
is too small to give to all the pupils the benefit of 
comfortable quarters. This lack of room has led to 
the necessity of constructing a new building, which 
will be done next year, and the schools will then be 
graded. 

The religious welfare of the citizens of C'oleman 
has not been neglected. A handsome church edi- 
fice, which cost $1,200, belongs to the Episcopal so- 
ciety, and the Methodists have a fine building, 
erected during the summer of 1884, at a cost of 
$2,000, and seating comfortably 400 persons. Rev. 
W. N. Younglove is the Pastor. 

Coleman has now (1884) about 700 inhabitants, 
and is increasing in population more rapidly than 
any other village in the county. Its growth during 
the past twelve n.onths has been truly surprising. 
During the past year there have been erected in the 




village 52 buildings, at an aggregate cost of $50,000. 
The plank road now completed between Cedar, the 
county seat of Gladwin County, and Coleman, will 
do much to develop and bring to Coleman a large 
amount of trade which otherwise it would be de- 
prived of. The township of Warren appropriated 
$5,000 to build the road through their township, the 
whole line costing over $2,000. 

The following gentlemen have served as Super- 
visors in Warren Township, in which the village of 
Coleman is located : 

S. W. Hubbell 1873-6 

L. Howard 1877-8 

George Miller 1879-80 

L. Hoivard 1881 

George Miller 1882 

Floyd L. Post 1883 

George Miller 1884 



.=ij 




Edenville Township. 

DENVILLE Township is located in the 
northern part of Midland County, and is 
bounded on the north by Gladwin County, 
on the east by Hope and Lincoln Town- 
ships, on the south by Jerome, and on the west 
by Warren Township. Edenville is drained by 
the Tittabawassee River, a large stream which finds 
its source in the southern part of Ogemaw County, 
and, taking a southerly direction, enters Edenville 
at its northeast corner, flows southwest for a short 
distance, and, receiving the waters of Tobacco Creek, 
continues its course southward into Jero.ne. 
The village of 

EDENVILLE 

is a neat little place on section i, at the junc- 
tion of the Tittabawassee River and Tobacco Creek. 
It was platted in 1878 by Henry Church, who also 
kept the first hotel, which was built in the spring of 
T863. Daniel Bowman built the first house on the 
village plat, of logs. David Burton followed with the 
construction of the first frame house. Kingsley Bab- 
cock was the proprietor of the first store, which con- 
tained a stock of general merchandise. The Rev. 
Francis Green delivered the first sermon in the village, 
in 1864, at the school-house previously erected on 
the site of the present one. Elizabeth Jacobs taught 



I 



c^: 






(o-> 



I 




^m'^t 



^^^ — ^^(i}U % w^y^ — ^^^ 




^PV^))«S«t|» 3f€J*K- 







:^ 



V 

5. 



392 



MIDLANU COUJMTY. 



the first two terms of school, in the dwelling house of 
Daniel Bowman. 

The manufacturing interests of Edenville are rep- 
resented by the following industries: Swanton Bros, 
operate a saw-mill which was built by C. W. W. 
Baker, and has the capacity of sawing 10,000 feet of 
lumber per day, and employs six men. A large black- 
smith and carriage shop is controlled by Norris Gill, 
The best hotel in the village is owned and managed 
by Thomas Moore, and is known as "JSIoore's Hotel." 
A livery barn is kept in connection with the hotel. 
The "Axford House" is run by Luther G. Carter. The 
postoffice was established in 1869, and Henry Church 
appointed the first Postmaster. 

There are three religious societies in Edenville, 
the Methodist, Advent, and "Unions." The latter 
have by far the largest assemblies, and their meetings 
are held in the school-house; the other two societies 
have neat frame church buildings, with beautiful 
grounds surrounding them. 

This little town at one time, between the years 
t866 and 1880, became noted for the many famous 
encounters between the would-be champions of this 
part of the State and the Saginaw Valley, among 
whom were Jack DriscoU, alias "Silver Jack," Jack 
Shepherd, Dan Drum, — Burk, Murray Rankin and 
other roughs of more or less note. Here, too, lived 
Charlie Axford and Tom Moore, the two rival land- 
lords who aided not a little, wiih either wit or mus- 
cle, to give the place a reputation throughout the 
State. There are few m.en in Michigan at the pres- 
ent day who have not heard of "Sixteen;" it is, per- 
haps, the smallest town with the largest reputation of 
all in the State. Although blood flowed freely on 
numerous occasions, and many and desperate were 
the conflicts between rival aspirants for pugilistic 
honors, human life was not taken until 1877, when 
Dr. Rockwell killed Ben Wilbur in a dispute over the 
possession of a horse. 

Here, too, resided some who were skillful and 
adroit in appropriating other people's goods to their 
own use without the consent of the owner. Jas. Rem- 
ick, now president of the Boom Company, once came 
down the river with a drive of logs. It is customary 
to make a float of logs pinned together to carry the 
cooking utensils, provisions and other necessaries, as 
well as a tent for camping on shore. On this occa- 
sion Mr. Remick came within a mile or two of "Six- 
teen," pitching his tent on the bank directly opposite 




the float in the river. During the afternoon he visit- 
ed the village and remarked that he had heard that 
the place was noted for thieving, but he would risk 
all they could steal from him. He slept that night 
with his crew in the tent, kept a fire on the bank 
between the tent and float, and left a man to watch. 
Judge of his surprise in the morning when he awak- 
ened to find his provisions, hams, pork, flour, tea and 
even bread and fried cakes all gone! He was obliged 
to go to the village to buy something for breakfast. 

This, however, is a picture of the village of Eden- 
ville in the past, but not as it now is. The citizens 
are all quiet and peaceable, and have attained that 
high state of morality the chief aim of which is 
manly uprightness of character. 

Abraham Egbert was the first settler in the town- 
ship, and first Justice of the Peace. David Burton, 
Daniel Bownan and Aaron Havens settled here in 
1855. Timothy Jerome, built the first saw-mill in 
the township, on the river one mile above the village 
of Edenville, in 1853. 

This township was formerly a part of Jerome. A 
petition signed by David Burton and others was pre- 
sented to the county Board of Supervisors, and on 
the 24th day of June, 1873, that body granted the 
request of the petitioners and erected the township. 
It is numbered 16 north and i west. The first 
election was held at the school-house in District No. 
r, on the first Monday in April, 1874. G. B. Bard- 
well, H. H. Morgan and John W. Swanton were the 
electors. The Supervisors have served as follows : 

StJPERVISORS. 

■ S. Erway 1S74 

A. Marsh 1875 

S. Erwav ...'..... 1 876-80 

T. Moore 18S1-2 

L. G. Porter 1883 

T. Moore r884 



A 



<-^D!l 



Larkin Township. 

S<aK: ARKIN Township lies in the eastern part 

of Midland County, and is numbered 15 

north and 2 east. Its northern boundary 

,x^ is Hope Township ; its eastern Bay County 

rS its southern. Midland, and its western Lincoln 

Township. 

The settlers in this township occupy their time in 







vs 






Kj 

*- 



(^ 



^ 





(3) 

i 



T 






, ; ) 



A' 



V 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



f^^« 



393 




winter in lumbering, and in summer in improving 
their lands; and most of them have very fine clear- 
ings. A large number of logs is cut out in this town- 
ship and hauled to the Tittabavvassee River and 
then floated down to the mills below, where they are 
converted into lumber, lath and shingles. There are 
no towns, villages or postofifices in Larkin, the town- 
ship being new and as yet sparsely settled. It lies 
just north of Midland, and has all tlie advantage as 
regards capabilities of the soil that any other town- 
ship in Midland County possesses. It was settled 
in 1876, mainly by immigration from Lincoln Town- 
ship. There are a number of school buildings, new 
and substantially constructed. The township is one 
of the best regulated in the county, one great advan- 
tage in its government being the strictly temperate 
principles of nearly all its denizens, most of whom 
are exact adherents of "the pledge." 

Game of all kinds has been abundant in this 
township until recently. Deer, which frequendy 
were found in large herds, are now quite scarce ; but 
bears are as numerous as ever, it being no uncommon 
thing for a hunter to kill three and four bears in one 
day. 

Larkin was named for John Larkin, a man who 
has been closely connected with the interests and 
progress of this county for many years. His name, 
with II others, were appended to the petition asking 
the Board of Supervisors to erect the new township, 
which was accordingly done, on the 24th of January, 
1 87 9. The first election was held at the residence 
of John Maloney, April 7, 1879, with VVm. Dougherty, 
David P. VVqldo and Archie Farron as Inspectors of 
Election. 

Larkin Township ranks third in the lowest grade, so 
far as development is concerned. Much of the land 
consists of what is known as " stump land," the tim- 
ber of which is being converted into fine lumber at 
the numerous mills which are scattered through the 
township. In a few years, however, this section will 
be more highly cultivated, and will challenge the ad- 
joining townships in the race for developments. Coal 
has been found in the vicinity of Sturgeon Creek, a 
small stream flowing through the township. At one 
time Mr. John Larkin decided to operate on the 
strength of his belief that this mineral could be 
found in abundance, and sent a force of men into 
the township to bore for coal; l)ut unfortunately tlie 



drill broke, and the coal fever having somewhat sub- 
sided, owing to the many other enterprises in which 
the business men of the county were engaged and 
which took up most of their time and attention, the 
coal project was abandoned indefinitely. There is, 
however, no doubt in the minds of many of the lead- 
ing citizens here that it exists in abundance, and at 
some future time coal mining will be one of the im- 
portant industries of this county and State. 

The Supervisors of Larkin have been men of in- 
tegrity and uprightness, and it is with pleasure we 
note them below in the order in which they have 
served their townships: 

SUPERVISORS. 

D. P.Waldo 1879 

William Dougherty 1880-1 

W. P. Shepherd 1882-3 

F. S. Burton 1884 




9 



<^ 



Greendale Township. 



rvg^^^#^- 



JL 



mm 



l|/p|C REENDALE Township is situated in the ^ 
l lMi[^ western part of Midland County, and is (- ,) 
"clilj^i" numbered 14 north and 2 west. Its north- 
'^' em boundary is Geneva, its eastern, Lee, and 

\ its southern, Jasper Townships; its western, 

f Isabella County. 

The northern half of the town of Greendale is 
drained by the Chippewa River, which flows across it 
from Isabella County on the west. The Little Salt 
River drains the southern portion, coming from the 
eastern part of Isabella, where it finds its source, and, 
flowing across Greendale, empties into the Chippewa 
in Lee Township. 

Truman Gibbs, of New York, settled on section 28, 
in this township, in the year 1864, and has ever since 
that time resided on the same tract of land. He is 
the present Supervisor of the township. Only three 
men subject to military duty were residents of the 
township at the time the draft was made in 1864. Of ' 
these three, Lincoln and Isaac^Ball were drafted ! 

The organization of this township was effected 
Jan. 5, 1882. The application was made by Chas. 
F. Wheeler, Harry L. Voorhees, Geo. W. Tooker, - 




2^^^ 



.^^^ 



T<i>wmm> 



'394 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



) 



^ 
^ 



'^ 



<> 



'O 



(oN 



James B. Kelly, Alonzo Converse, Jas. H. Osborne, 
Chas. J. Bradford, Clifton Smith, David J. Zook, 
Seneca J. Williams, L. \V. June, Jas. H. Arnold, 
Abram W. Ball and Truman Gibbs. The first elec- 
tion was held at the school-house in District No. 8, 
April 3, 1882, with Truman C. Gibbs, Clifton Smith, 
and David J. Zook as Inspectors of Election, The first 
election for Justice of the Peace resulted in tlie 
choice of Isaac Ball. 

The first school-house was built of logs on section 
27, and the first session of school was taught by Mrs. 
— Smith. 

There are a number of lumber camps in this town, 
the pine in this section of the county being of the 
finest quality. In a fe.v years, however, it will all be 
removed, when the main interest will center in agri- 
cultural products. Greendale stands with those 
townships fourth in rank in the importance of its 
lumber interests and richness of its soil, much of the 
latter consisting of sand. 

CENTRAL CITY 

Was platted by a company of Ohio gentlemen, who 
endeavored to establish a city, and by advertising 
undertook to give the place a " boom." Central City 
is as near the center of a township as a village can be 
built, and is just half way between Midland City on 
the east and Mount Pleasant on the west, and is 
exactly in the center of the southern peninsula, 
through which runs the old State Road, and over 
which the great travel of the State, by private convey- 
ance, east and west, is dally passing. 

The Supervisors of Greendale, whose names are 
here given, have each served one term. The settlers 
are all trustworthy men, who will take care that those 
selected to represent them will act for the best inter- 
ests of their town. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Henry L. Voorhees 1882 

Oscar A. Clark 1883 

T. H. Gibbs 1884 




Lee Township. 

EE Township is situated in the southern 
part of Midland County, and is bounded 
on the north by Jerome, on the east by 
Homer and Mount Haley Townships, on the 
A, south by Porter, and west by Greendale Town- 
^ ship. The Chippewa River crosses Lee a little 
south of the center of the township. The Little Salt 
empties into the Chippewa in tlie western part. The 
Pine River flows northeast from Gratiot County and 
across the southeastern corner of Lee. 

This township was organized Oct. 13, 1880. The 
first election was held at the Mallory school-house, on 
the 4th day of April, 1881, with Henry J. Yates, Wm. 
D. Watlan and Walter J. Higby as Inspectors of Elec- 
tion. The petition which was presented to the Board 
of Supervisors, asking them to set apart the territory 
known and described as number 14 north and i west, 
and call it "Lee Township," was signed by Jno. .Suiter, 
Walter J. Higby, H. J. Yates, Hans P. Lawson,Thos. 
F. Baker, Hans Sersen, Geo. Spens, Wm. Dape, 
Dan'l Weed, Justus C. Perry, Jno. A. Mallory, S. H. 
Webster, Nelson Hitsman, Hezekiah Weller and Jno. 
Gateman. 

Lee is classed witli tliose towiishi|)S which are 
fourth in rank in point of agriculture. The timber 
consists of oak, ash and hard and soft maple. Wells 
of good and pure water can be obtained in this town- 
ship at moderate depths. The river furnishes plenty 
of water for stock, and were it not for the continuous 
jam of logs some prime fish might be captured. 

A number of good school buildings are located in 
Lee, mention of which is made in the chapter devoted 
to educational topics. 

Land commands a price averaging better than most 
localities in the county, although many acres can yet 
be purchased at prices averaging from $5 to $10 per 
a:re. 

We api)end the names of her supervisors for the 
past four years. 

A. J. Davis 1881-3 

A. L. Bellinger i{ 




i, 






(1) 



^ 



l^^5f 





.•',Sj» 



(b 



^^#- 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 











wn. 



y^ 



k^!*.?^ 





HE largest *own in the coun- 
ty is Midland City. It is 
situated on both banks of 
the Tittabawassee River, in 
the township of Midland, 
and is the county seat. The 
larger and more important 
part of the village is on the north 
bank of tTie river. The streets are 
broad and straight, and some of 
them have been graded and paved 
with cedar blocks, thereby dispens- 
ing with the annoyances brought 
about by the very sandy soil of 
which this location consists. Mid- 
land City lies in the center of an 
immense timber district, and the 
manufacturing interests are cen- 
tered chiefly in lumber and salt, large quantities of 
which are manufactured in this village. 

Midland is located almost in the geographical cen- 
ter of the Lower Peninsula, and is practically the hub 
around which the villages of Mt. Pleasant, St. Louis, 
and the lesser towns in the neighborhood revolve. It 
is distant i8 miles from Bay City, 24 miles from Sagi- 
naw, 26 miles from Mt. Pleasant, and 20 miles from 
St. Louis. All these are lively towns, which are 
struggling hard for supremacy in commercial im- 
portance in the future; but the resources of Midland 
surpass most of them, and falls scarcely short of those 
of Saginaw or Bay City. Midland enjoys with them 
all the advantages of a fine climate, and has a better 
natural location than anv one of the smaller villages 



named. She stands at the junction of two noble 
rivers, which, with their tributaries, drain an exten- 
sive and fertile region, comprising a large portion of 
the best territory of Central Michigan. She is sup- 
ported by an excellent agricultural region lying im- 
mediately around her, is in the very center of the 
great salt basin of the State, and is surrounded by 
a territory which possesses forests that are still 
capable of furnishing an untold wealth of pine, hem- 
lock, oak, bass-wood, maple, elm and other varieties 
of timber, which by means of the beautiful streams, 
the Tittabawassee, Chippewa, Pine, Salt, Tobacco, 
Sturgeon and others, are conveniently accessible. 
She enjoys the advantage of one railroad, the State 
roads and other good highways, and is the county 
seat of a county that is rapidly being settled by an 
industrious, sober and energetic people. 

The Beginnings. 

It MONO the first business enterprises of 

^^^ Midland was the hotel erected by John 

Larkin. This was built in 1856, and was a 

ty small, unpretentious wooden building, located 

'j" near where the present Reardon Block now 

stands. The patronage of this inn was immense, 

and money was coined for its owner. 

Samuel Sias built the first grist-mill, which was 

located near where the bromine factory now stands. 

h man named Lloyd was the first blacksmith. 




c^ 






^ 




®r^^^ 



.^^-^ 



<-^D!l^Dli;i> 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-#^C(sV(B 



(h 



1 



T 



whose shop stood where Reardon Bros.' mill now 
stands. The oldest inhabitant cannot remember his 
given name, although many are now living here that 
kne>v him. 

The first store in the village was opened by James 
Eastman, who is now in business next door to the 
Oscar House. Lou Eastman sold goods and was the 
first clerk in this store. It was situated near the dock, 
which at that time was the commercial center of the 
village. 

The second store was kept by L. P. Bailey, in a 
small building near Lloyd's blacksmith shop. 

E. G. Buttles built the first residence on the north 
side of the river. Although several families were al- 
ready living on the opposite bank, that locality was 
not at that time reckoned as being apart of Midland. 
Charles Rodd, previously mentioned, had a store on 
that side of the river, the stock of which consisted of 
a small assortment of groceries and dry goods and a 
large supply of whisky and tobacco! 

The Methodist Church was the first church edifice 
erected. This building was removed to its present 
site from its first location on the corner of Gordon 
and Main Streets in 1S83. 

From the date of the permanent location of tlie 
county seat, Midland assumed a healthy and vigor- 
ous growth. Stores were opened, and men came in 
for the purpose of locating lands, and business of every 
kind was thereby enhanced. Some good residences 
were built, among them being one erected by Dr. 
Jennings where the Oscar House now stands. 

Tlie jail was tlie first structure erected in the county. 
This was completed and accepted June 14, 1S69. 
John Larkin was the contractor. 

N. T. Carr was the first printer in the county. He 
established the Midland Sentinel and conducted it 
successfully for several years. He was afterward 
Supervisor of Midland Township, and was consid- 
ered one of her most reliable business men. 

During the progress of the late war a home mili- 
tary company was organized here, with Harvey Lyon, 
a Mexican veteran, as diill-master. The members 
were drilling one Sunday morning, after which sev- 
eral of the company went to the printing-office of 
Mr. Carr to talk a few moments. Charles Searrin 
picked up a shot-gun which was standing near, and 
went through the " manual of arms." Mr. Carr took 
the gun after Searrin had put it down, and remarked 

^m^ ^^f^ — ^^^niig 




that " he guessed there was no danger, as the gun 
was not loaded." After going through the "manual 
0/ arms," he pointed the gun at Searrin, pulled the 
trigger and both barrels were discharged full in his 
face! Searrin lived only a few hours, and it was re- 
garded as an unfortunate affair, ('arr disposed of 
his office during the year and left the village, taking 
with him Belle Huntington, the sister of Mrs. Sear- 
rin, leaving his own wife behind! He is now living 
in the southern part of Michigan, totally blind, and 
has both his wives with him, the one left behind 
coming when hearing of his infirmity ! 

Harvey Lyon, the old Mexican veteran, was the 
first man to engage in the manufacture of wagons 
and carriages. He is still engaged in the business, 
and is better conversant with the early history of Mid- 
land than any other man living in it, except it be 
John Larkin. 

Charles Searrin, the man who so unfortunately 
lost his life, was the first carpenter and builder. 

E. H. Beardsley put in the first stock of hardware 
and furniture, and still continues the business. 

Henry C. Burt was also engaged in business at an 
early day. His stock consisted of general merchan- 
dise, there being no specialties in a mercantile way 
in the pioneer history of Michigan merchants. 

James Foster, who still carries on the business, 
was the first harness-maker in Midland. 

The Hinds Bros, opened the first stock of drugs 
in 1S64. The firm consisted of William and James 
Hinds. 'I'iiey occupied a small frame building where 
Harris & Rockwell's building now stands. 

Alfred Avery, who was accidentally killed while 
serving as Deputy Sheriff, by John Ryan, was the 
first livery-man in the village. His barn occupied 
the site now the property of Clason & Haley. 

The first Surveyor was George Turner. He had 
plenty of work and light pay. 

William Patrick built a tannery at the foot of the 
upper bridge in 1863, which was the first enterprise 
of the kind attempted in the county. 

G. F. Hemingway was the first attorney practicing 
in the village. He is yet a resident, and liis opinions 
on legal matters are considered correct. He has also 
been elected to the State Legislature, and served his 
constituents with much honor. 

John Larkin was the first Postmaster, and had the 
office located in the bar-room of his hotel. The 






(~ 



*^ 






% 



IWy^^ — ^^^ 





6V4:I^I1^:I1H^'>^ 



-s®§ 



l^^((sVi 



1^ 



^^ 



$) 



MIDLANB COUNTY. 



397 



mail was brought in from Saginaw once a week, and 
was kept in a little cupboard three feet sijuare. 

The first school-house was erected at the corner of 
Ashman and Ellsworth Streets. Mrs. Flanders 
taught the first school, in 1859. Tlie building is 
still standing, but it is not used for educational pur- 
poses. 

The " Harris Block " was the first brick business 
block erected in Midland. The second was built by 
Reardon Bros. Both of these are handsome three- 
story buildings, and are a credit to any village or 
city. 










Midland as an Incorporated Village. 

'■I^W-.'lDL.^ND was incorporated in 1869. The 
'% t^'M^ ^ territory included in said corporation 
||1^^ commences at the quarter post of the 
j^^\'\V\ west line of school section 16, thence west 
'r^ to the quarter line of section 17, to the east 
bank of the Tittabawassee River ; thence 
down the river as it trends to the quarter line; then 
southerly on the quarter line to the center cpiarter 
post of section 20; thence easterly on the quarter 
line one and a half miles to the quarter post in the 
west line of section 22; thence north on the section 
line one mile, to quarter post in the west line of sec- 
tion 15 ; thence west on the quarter line of school 
section 16 one mile, to the place of beginning. All 
this territory is in town 14 north, range 2 east. 

The first election was held April 19, 1869, the 
Inspectors of which were James W. Cochrane, James 
Major and E. J. Hinds. The officials composing the 
first Board were ; President, Solomon Heald; Clerk, 
Wm. Cressey ; Treasurer, Wm. Sinclair; Marshal, 
H. M. Ellsworth; Trustees— ist Ward, L. Church 
and J. A. Dorr; 2d Ward, A. Findlater and J. W. An- 
derson ; 3d Ward, Harvey Lyon and C. C. Ball. 

The first meeting after the incorporation was held 
x^pril 26, 1869. 

The present village officers are : President, Benj. 
F. Bradley ; Clerk, Charles Hecox ; Treasurer, 
Chades A. Webster; Marshal, J. W. Blackmar; Trus- 
tees for two years, John McKay, Warren L. Sias and 

i^V^>)€^#^ ^^4^ '^7^^-iIl !1 



Daniel F. Straker; Trustees for i year, James S. 
Allen and Charles P. Turner; Village Attorney, 
D. W. Hitchcock. George P. Mickley held over 
from 1883. 

A great deal of enterprise has been manifested i)y 
the officials of Midland City, the streets being nicely 
graded, Main street paved its entire length, which, 
with the introduction of the Holly system of water 
works, give the village quite a "city-fied" air. It is 
largely in debt, however, the total, including water- 
works bonds and street paving, amounting to $37,- 
795.31. The city valuation is about $500,000, which 
makes the rate of taxation quite heavy. 

The village has suffered some heavy losses by fire, 
the heaviest one occurring May 27, 1876, when 52 
houses were burned! The fire was originated by 
sparks from a passing locomotive, and the devouring 
flame carried everything before it from where Rear- 
don's Block stands entirely through the village, in a 
northerly direction. 

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT 

is now well equipped, and another outbreak could be 
efficiently checked. In 1864, a "Button" hand en- 
gine was purchased, at a cost of $2,200. This in- 
cluded 500 feet of hose and the cart. It is still 
owned by the city, and is in good working order, 
although reckoned among the things that were. 

The first fire company regularly organized was 
formed in March, 1872. It consisted of 30 volun- 
teer firemen, with B. F. Wilcox, Foreman. Their 
outfit consisted of five ladders and 20 buckets. 
The following summer, a Babcock extinguisher was 
purchased, at a cost of $2,400. This was a poor in- 
vestment, it never proving of much service. It was 
sold in 1880 for $75. The department now consists 
of two hose carts and 2,500 feet of hose. True 
Hart is Fire Marshal, and Edward Lyon Assistant. 
Forty-four men and four torch boys are enrolled on 
the Company's books. The present system of Holly 
water-works have thus far proved very satisfactory, 
the pressure being strong enough to throw water over 
any house in the village. The men are divided into 
two companies : Hose company No. i, under the 
care of Wm. Reardon ; and No 2, under the care ot 
George Selley. The village owns the engine whicli 
furnishes the power. It is located on the opposite 
bank of the Tittabawassee, near the junction of the 
Chippewa with that stream. 











■^aj^^J^!^ 



VC:DD^I]I]v> 



r^i^&s: 




398 



MJJJLANV COUNTY. 



•0 



f 

> 

) 




Business. 

'HE Mineral ^Vell has been for several years 
a great attraction for pleasure-seekers from 
abroad. It was bored in 1867, soon after 
'^P^ the discovery of the mineral well at St. Louis. 
This was done by a joint stock company com- 
posed of the following persons : Lewis East- 
man, J. S. Eastman, Alex. Findlater, Wm. Harris, 

Roderick Russell, Benj. Dean, and Barker. 

There were three other persons interested whose 
names cannot now be ascertained. The shares 
were rated at $200 each, which amount completed 
the well and erected a commodious bath-house. 
The same was under the supervision of Lewis East- 
man, who managed it quite successfully. The ladies' 
department was superintended by Mrs. ISLaggie Cun- 
ningham, a well known lady of tliis village, whose 
courteous manner added largely to the patronage be- 
stowed. The property has been transferred to Wm. 
L. Stearns, who has erected a comfortable boarding- 
house. This bath-house is kept in operation only 
during the summer months, but it adds largely to the 
attractions of Midland as a summer resort. 

An analysis of the water made by Prof. Duffield, 
of the State .Agricultural College, shows the number 
of grains of solid matter to one imperial gallon, as 
follows . 

*iraiM<. 

Sulphate of Lime 4.45 

Sulphate Potassa 32.19 

Sulphate Soda 32 06 

Phosphate .Muniina 1.72 

Chloride Calcium. 6.21 

Chloride Magnesium 2.19 

Chloride Sodium 32.7c 

Silica 2.96 

Organic Matter 2.46 

Loss 3.2 I 




Total 110.30 

The benefits which must naturally follow the use 
of this water are readily recognized by every physi- 
cian. As an alterative and deobstruent, they are 
unexcelled by any waters in the State, and in many 
diseases of the stomach, bowels, kidneys and blood 
they act almost specifically. 

The manufacturing interests of Midland City are 
second to no village of its size in the State. 

The most extensive industry is the large lumber 



and shingle mills and the mammoth salt works of 
Larkin & Patrick. The mill manufactures annually 
6,000,000 feet of lumber, 25,000,000 shingles, 33,126 
salt barrels, r, 283, 425 staves, 102,675 headings and 
5 1,337 flour barrels. 

Their salt well was tlie first one sunk in the village, 
and was dug in 1878. It is t,3oo feet in depth, and 
the flow of brine surpasses in gravity that of any 
well in t1ie salt region except llie others now in op- 
eration at this place. The average salt production 
of this firm amounts to 54,000 barrels annually. 

They also operate a bromine factory and manu- 
facture 4,500 pounds of this product yearly; 140 
hands are employed, the amounts paid them aver- 
aging $49,010.01. In r883 this firm shipped 526 
cars of lumber, 325 cars of shingles, 371 cars o( 
salt and 28 cars of other products. They expended 
$20,862.25. The benefits derived by the village of 
Midland from this firm is infcalculable. The wages 
paid are almost entirely left in the hands of her mer- 
chants. 

The firm of J. Herrick & Co. manufacture 2,200 
barrels of salt annually, John Maloney 1,656, and 
Samuel Foster 1,241. This makes the annual salt 
production of Midland City 59,097 barrels, to which 
may be added 4,500 pounds of bromine. In addition, 
the Merchant Flouring Mills of James Herrick & Co. 
and the Star Mills of Reardon Bros. & Co. do a large 
business. The other manufacturing establishments, 
wagon, buggy, furniture, etc., add largely to the list 
and are well represented. 

Peters Bros, have located just outside of the cor- 
poration an extensive building for the manufacture 
of hoops and headings. The firm is composed of 
R. G. and J. H. Peters, both men of wealth and 
energy. This factory was recently put into opera- 
tion, and at present employs 35 hands. When all 
the machinery is set in motion they will employ 140 
hands, and with r2 planers will turn out r, 540,000 
finished hoops per week. 

The hardware and agricultural implement trade is 
well represented by Geo. A. Janes, C. F. Russell 
and Reardon Brothers. Very few houses in much 
larger cities carry a larger stock of goods than these 
gentlemen. 

The largest line of clothing and gents' furnishing 
goods is carried by Starker & Co. Reardon Brothers 
have the most extensive mercantile establishment in 



vt 






i< 



V 





MIDLAND COUNTY 



"Zi^^'^ 



^ 



4 









(Q^ 



the village, carrying a line of hardware, groceries 
and dry goods in three separate apartments, the 
whole being connected by entrances leading from 
one to the other. 

All the merchants carry a stock of boots and 
shoes, there lieing no store in the village devoted en- 
tirely to this branch of trade. 

Three splendid millinery stores, replete with every- 
thing in that line, are kept by Mesdames A. M. A. 
Mahana, J. S. Allen and J. Hays. The ladies of 
Midland are unexceptionally well dressed, due no 
doubt to the prosperity that is manifest in all branches 
of trade. 

George W. Abbey has an elegant stock of watches, 
clocks, diamonds, jewelry, etc. He also deals in 
music and musicians' supplies. His competitor in 
this business is E. A. Clark, who reports trade satis- 
factory in every respect. 

There is only one bank in the village, the "First 
National of Midland." The company was organized 
Sept. I, 1883, and commenced business on the 8th 
of that month. The bank is a great convenience to 
the business men of Midland, besides being a good 
investment for its stockholders. Connected with the 
office is a fire-proof vault, in which is the fire and 
burglar proof safe, fitted with double time lock. The 
officers of this bank are : President, M. P. Anderson ; 
Vice President, Maxon Anderson; Cashier, W. D. 
Marsh. 

The drug trade of Midland is well represented by 
four firms, who carry a large and well selected stock 
of goods. Rockwell & Harris, Anderson Bros., Hinds 
Bros, and John W. Day have on an average S4>ooo 
each invested in the business. 

The physicians are all doing nicely, and the most 
of them are making money. Drs. W. G. Harris, W. 

E. Burtless, A. Magill, W. W. Fountaine and Dr. 
Day are members of the " allopathic," and Dr. E. B. 
Bockes, of the Eclectic school. 

The members of the Midland County Bar all re- 
side in this city, except Floyd L. Post, who lives in 
Coleman. The active members are Hemingway & 
Ricketts, Stanford & Van Kleeck, D. W. Hitchcock, 
Gordon & Fales, H. L. Fairchild, Byron Burch and 
Myron Gue. Those who are not engaged in active 
practice are F. S, Burton, Ed. J. Carey, J. W. Coch- 
rane and E. P. Rice. The first three attorneys in 
this village were Henry C. Ashman, Judge Wilbur 

F. VVoodworth and G. F. Hemingway. 




Midland City is well provided with hotel accom- 
modations, having three large and commodious build- 
ings. The " Exchange Hotel " was destroyed by fire 
in April, 1884. The "Oscar House" is a neat two- 
story brick, comfortably furnished throughout, and 
contains 40 rooms. The proprietor, Charles Oscar, 
is one of the most courteous landlords to be found 
anywhere. Marshall Smith is clerk of this popular 
hotel. The only fault which can be found with the 
" Oscar House " is the lack of room, many being 
turned away who are thus forced to seek quarters 
elsewhere. This house is a favorite stopping-place 
for traveling salesmen, there being a sample room ad- 
jacent for the display of their goods. A billiard and 
dram room is attached to the office. The hotel is 
well managed, and is an excellent paying investment. 

The "Sherwood House " is a handsome three-story 
brick structure fronting on Main Street. F. J. Barry 
is the accommodating landlord, and guests of the 
" Sherwood " find not only pleasant and ample ac- 
commodations, but also all the comforts of a home. 
There are rooms enough in this building to accom- 
modate 60 transient guests, and the table is well 
supplied with the best the market affords. A free 
carriage attends every train, and those who make the 
" Sherwood " headquarters are loud in their praise of 
its management. 

The " Findlater House " is centrally located in a 
pleasant portion of the village, convenient to business 
and easily accessible. The present proprietor, Mr. 
Frank B. VVilkins, assumed control in May, 1884. 
He is quite popular with the traveling public, and the 
excellent reputation this hotel has always borne will 
be enhanced by his connection with it. The building 
is a two-story frame, with airy rooms, well furnished 
and well patronized. 

Messrs. Clason & Haley lead in the livery business 
and their stock of buggies and carriages equal those 
kept by city liveries. They have selected their driv- 
ing horses with great care, and the roadsters owned 
by this firm are noted for speed and endurance. In 
addition to their livery, Messrs. Clason & Haley 
are engaged in the business of undertaking. 

Charles Anderson has a very fine livery and a good 
patronage. In fact, Midland supports enterprises of 
this character quite well. 

George Covert is not eclipsed in his efforts to 
please the public, and his barn contains some speedy 
roadsters. The aim of all these gentlemen is to fur- 



^■ 



^ 






c-o: 



(v' 



'^'/- 




^m^ 



-'"'^^ — %^\im 




^^ 



^^ 



^^ 



■(^^ 



V^:I1I1^I]I1^> 



■J^ 



400 



(> 



;;) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



nish the finest turn-outs to be found in Central Mich- 
igan at reasonable rates. 

Midland City has one of the finest postoffice build- 
ings, and the neatest furniture and equipments, to be 
found in Northern Michigan. E. J. Brewster, the 
present Postmaster, is a gentleman as courteous as 
he is popular, and the affiiirs of the Midland post- 
office under his management cannot be improved. 
The transformation from the first postoffice, which 
was kept by John Larkin in the bar-room of his 
hotel, to the elegant quarters it now occupies, is com- 
plete, and adds largely to the attractive business 
houses of this beautiful village. 



Church History, 



FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

"'^^W CIRCUIT was organized bearing the name 
of ■' Midland " at the session of the Detroit 
^1^^"°* Annual Conference held at Port Huron in 
Jilj^ September, 1857. It was the first religious 
% organization in Midland. The circuit consist- 
j ed of the following places : Midland City> 
Bluffs, King's, now in Freeland Circuit, Higgins', Swan 
Creek, Shields' and Crook's. The first quarterly con- 
ference was held in the fall of 1857, by S. Clements, 
then Presiding Elder of the Flint District. The first 
class-book was dated Feb. 5, 1858, and contained the 
names of 13 persons, four members and nine proba- 
tioners. 

A board of trustees was appointed in June, 1863, 
and a donation of lots for a church site received from 
John Moore, of Saginaw city. In May, 1864, the site 
of the church building was located on lot 4, block 15. 
In 1866 a building committee was appointed and the 
erection of the present church edifice commenced, a 
frame, 40 x 70 feet. The building was completed in 
1869 and dedicated on October 4th of that year, by 
Rev. J. M. Reid, D. D., of Chicago, John Hamilton 
being Pastor. The completion of the church build- 
ing was largely due to the efforts of Pastor Nelson 
Green, who was Mr. Hamilton's immediate predeces- 
sor. In the fall and winter of 1883-4, daring the 
Pastorate of C. M. Thompson, the church edifice was 
moved from its original site to the corner of Fitzhugh 

^^^^" >.^^ ^A<:ill!l 





and Main Streets. A brick basement was placed 
under it, at a cost of $1,400, which amount is fully 
provided for. In the exchange of lots Thos. J. Car- 
penter, Esq., canceled a claim of $1,600 which he 
held against the property, and now it is entirely free 
from debt. The new basement is nicely furnished 
and very commodious, and the new site on Main street 
preferable to the old one. 

The first pastor was Rufus H. Crane, who received 
as a year's salary $114.02. The following is a list of 
the pastors: Rufus H. Crane, Robert Johnson, Alan- 
son Herrick, M. S. Leet, L. S. Tedman, Samuel Kits- 
miller, Nelson Green, John Hamilton, L. L. Hough- 
ton, F. \V. May, Duke Whitely, James H. Curnalia, 
W. H. Osborne, C. H. Talmadge, John O. Bancroft, 
J. B. Atchison, H. W. Hicks and the present Pastor, 
C. M. Thompson. 

The Board of Trustees consists of Theo. J. Car- 
penter, Milton P. Anderson, James B. Burtless,Chas. 
S. Barber and Aaron T. Gillick. Thos. Pick and John 
B. Smith are the Class- Leaders. There are 68 full 
members and 24 probationers, making a total of 92. 
The congregation and Sabbath-school are in a healthy 
condition and steadily increasing in numbers and in- 
terest, and the outlook for the Church is very hope- 
ful and cheering. 

FIRST PRESBVTERI.AN CHURCH. 

This Church was organized Sept. 4, 1867, by 
Rev. M. Gelston,T. L.Waldo and Wm. Ure. The orig- 
inal members were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McCartney 
and Miss Esther Doyle, who were received on confes- 
sion of their faith, Mrs. Ellen Cressy and Mrs. E. Per- 
kins, who presented letters of dismission from other 
Churches. The Confession and Covenant of the 
Presbytery of Saginaw were adopted, and the election 
of Elders was deferred for two years, until July 2, 
1869, when John Hoynes and Sherman Olmstead 
were elected and installed as Elders of the Church. 

A church building was erected on the corner of 
Larkin and Townsend Streets, but soon afterwards it 
was struck by lightning and received much damage. 
It was soon put in good repair, however, but in 1876 
it was entirely consumed by fire. From that time 
till 1880 the Church had neither house nor pastor. 
In October of that year the present Pastor, Rev. P. 
S. Davies, was installed and took charge of the scat- 
tered flock. The new minister set about to devise 
means by which a church could be built. His 



% 



^ 



(>) 



^ 



c^: 



< 







lM;^ri))^#^ 



VCH 



I^OIl^^T^T^ 



^~ 



MIDLAND COUNTY, 



-^^^^sVl^ 



401 



^ 






^^i 



V 

:) 



^ 



■f 



faithfulness and energy were soon apparent in the 
lively and substantial interest which the members, as 
well as outsiders, took in the matter, and in 1882 the 
church which they now occupy was completed, at a 
cost, including furniture, of $6,000. This new church 
was dedicated Sept. 25, 1882; Rev. Chapman, of Bay 
City delivered the dedicatory sermon, assisted by the 
resident minister, Rev. P. S. Davies. The succession 
of ministers from the first is T. L. Waldo, E. Swift, 
E. W. Borden and P. S. Davies. The Church now 
consists of 99 members, and is organized for work in 
the several departments indicated, as follows: 

Church Session — Rev. P. S. Davies, Pastor : Sher- 
man Olmstead, James Peters, E. Anderson and E. P. 
Rice, Elders. D. P. Waldo, E. P. Rice, G. W. Abbey, 
Wm. Reardon, M. Anderson and E. Anderson, Trus- 
tees. 

Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society — Mrs. Rev. P. 
S. Davies, President; Mrs. G. \V. Abbey, Vice Presi- 
dent; Mrs. D. A. Huyck, Recording Secretary; Mrs. 
Dr. W. E. Burtless, CorresfXinding Secretary; Mrs. 
Jno. McKay, Treasurer. Ladies' Aid Society— Mrs. 
Rev. P. S. Davies, President; Mrs. S. Olmstead, Vice 
President; Mrs. Dr. J.S. Herries, Secretary ; Mrs. VVm. 
Reardon, Treasurer. Sunday-school — J. G. Culver, 
Superintendent; D. P. Waldo, Assistant Superintend- 
ent; T. W. Crissey, Clerk; Stewart Gordon, Libra- 
rian; Mrs. Elizabeth McKizie, Treasurer Band of 
Hope — J. G. Culver, Superintendent; Harry Starker, 
Treasurer; Carrie Huyck, Librarian; Chas. Burt, 
Secretary. 

BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

A meeting was held in the Presbyterian church 
June 2, 1869, for the purpose of considering the 
propriety of organizing a Baptist society, there being 
20 or 30 persons in the village who were Bajjlists in 
sentiment. Mr. — Myers was appointed Moderator 
and Mr. — Hough Secretary. The society was or- 
ganized under the name of the " First Baptist Church 
of Midland City." At the first covenant meeting, 
held at Mr. Hough's, July 10, i86g, Mr. and Mrs. 
— Green, Mr. Hough, Minnie Hough, Mr. and Mrs. 
Pratt and Mr. — Smith were received into the soci- 
ety by confession and baptism. 

On the 7th of August, 1869, a meeting was held 
at the house of Mr. Joseph Townsend, for the pur- 
pose of deciding upon some means by which they 
might obtain aid in building a house of worship. Mr. 




Myers and William Harris were appointed to pro- 
cure a deed of land suitable for a church site and 
parsonage. They commenced work at once, and Jan. 
15, 1870, they held their first meeting in the new 
church. The first communion service, was held 
March 6, of the same year. The society since that 
time has steadily progressed and rapidly increased 
in numbers and influence, and the outlook for its 
future is a very promising one. The Rev. Mr. 
Leonard is the present pastor of the flock, and it is 
thought that when his work is well under headway 
he will, by the interest and energy which he takes in 
the welfare of the Churcli, attract many more to the 
already large congregations which assemble there 
every Sabbath. A collection is taken up on the last 
Sunday of each alternate month for the aid of for- 
eign missions, home missions. Publication Society, 
State missions and Christian education. 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The first Episcopal services held in the village of 
Midland were conducted by the Rev. John Leech, 
Rector of the St. John's Parish, Saginaw City, in 
October of the year 1867. Mr. J. W. Cochrane was 
mainly instrumental in procuring this minister to 
preside over and conduct the services, which were 
held in Cochrane's Hall. The Rt. Rev. S. A. 
McCoskry, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese, held con- 
firmation in November following, at which time four 
persons were confirmed. Services were continued 
with more or less regularity through the following 
winter, by Revs. Leech, G. B. Eastman, of St. Paul's 
Parish, East Saginaw, Fayette Royce, Rector of Trin- 
ity Church, Bay City, and John W. Birchmore, 
Rector of St. Paul's Parish, Flint, together with lay 
reading by a member of St. Paul's Church, East 
Saginaw. 

In March, 1868, the Rev. W. R. Tillinghast was 
put in charge of St. John's Mission, of Midland 
City, by the Bishop of this Diocese. Rev. Tilling- 
hast was a resident of East Saginaw, and visited the 
mission two Sundays in each month. The society 
continued under this arrangement until its organiza- 
tion. In the meantime the Church proper fitted up 
a pleasant chapel in Eastman's Hall, and services 
were held in this place after the organization of the 
Parish. The first Church family was that of Geo. 
A. Janes, a former member of St. Jolin's Parish, 
Detroit. 



vJ^ 



&; 



V^' 



9 

1=1 



^>^^9■ 




m 



4<ii 



MIDLANB COUNTY. 



ri^^ :r^s|^l^(sV#P 



Among the first confirmed were Jas. G. Farwell, 
Mrs. Gertrude W. Farwell and Mr. John McGregor. 

'^ These faithful Church people labored constantly and 
J earnestly for the building up of the Parish, the organ- 

'^1 ization of which was effected in March, 1870, under 
the direction of Rev. Tillinghast. The corporators 
were Geo. A. Janes, John \V. Cochrane, Jas. Hayes, 
Edward Corcelins, Cooley E. Ball, J. W. Anderson and 
Robert C. Richmond. The first Vestry consisted of 
the following gentlemen : G.^ A. Janes and Jas. 
Hayes, Wardens ; C. E. Ball, R. C. Richmond, E. Cor- 
celins and J. W. Cochrane. The Parish was admit- 
ted to union with the Diocese at the Annual Council 
held at Jackson June 1 1, 1870. 

Rev. W. Richmond Tillinghast was the first Rector 
elected to this Parish. He accepted the call and 
entered upon his duties May 15, 1870, and after 
ministering to the people of this Church for the 
space of one year he resigned, in May, 1S71. 
The second pastor was Henry McClory, who re- 
mained five months. Meanwhile the newly erected 
chapel stood unfinished for nearly one and a half 
years. No S.abbath-school had been held, and only 
occasional Church services. At this time Henry J. 
Brown, a candidate for holy orders, was appointed by 
the Bishop to take charge of the Parish as Lay Read- 
er. He resigned his charge July 13, 1873. Then 
Rev. Arthur M. Backus, a missionary, was sent here 
and entered upon his duties July i, 1875, and con- 
tinued in the pulpit one year, resigning July i, 1876. 
For two and a half years the society was without a 
pastor; interest flagged, the members became dis- 
heartened, and the l-.\ck of some one to lead them 
proved almost fatal to the society. While affairs 
Tvere in this condition. Gen. Runkle took hold of the 
Church as Lay Reader, July 11, 1881. The com- 
municants were few in number; they were scattered 
and discouraged, but they quickly rallied and made a 
noble and successful effort tore-establish the Church. 
The building was sadly out of repair and rapidly 
going to ruin. A subscription of several hundred 
dollars was raised and the Church again made com- 
fortable and attractive; the social life of the congre- 
gation was revived and kept up with spirit and good 
feeling. The Bishop confirmed a class of 25 per- 
sons on Wednesday evening, Feb. 8, 1882. At this 
time there were 41 baptisms, of which 11 were 
adults. 

In April following this confirmation Gen. Runkle 



) 



>^ 



{) 




resigned, and for some months they were again with- 
out a rector. Rev. R. W. Rhames was then called 
and remained with them for more than a year. His 
successor. Rev. Samuel F. Myers, took charge of the 
Parish in February, 1884. Under his management 
the congregation is gaining renewed strength and life. 
A Ladies' Aid Society has been recently organized. 
Its object is the promotion of the charitable and spir- 
itual work of the Church. The President is Mrs. S. 
F. Myers; Vice-President, Mrs. Dora Henry; Secre- 
tary, Mrs. Mary A. Maxwell ; Treasurer, Mrs. Wni. 
Patrick. The members'are divided into committees 
for caring for the sick and poor, for looking after 
strangers who come to the village, extending the hos- 
pitalities of the Church, and for seeing that the gen- 
eral Church work is not neglected. 

CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

Wm. B. Kelly came to this county from Canada 
in 1866, bringing his family with him. They were 
earnest and devoted believers in the Catholic faith, 
and, finding no society of this denomination in the 
new village, he, together with John Haley, Edward 
Haley, D. Chism, — Hogan, — Glasco and a few 
others, met at his house for worship. In October, 
1870, Father Scutchin, of Bay City, said the first mass 
in the county, at Mr. Kelly's residence. 

The society, having gained in numbers, began to 
think of building a church as a more convenient place 
of worship. Accordingly, Mr. Kelly went to John Lar- 
kin and asked him if they could buy a lot of him 
on which to erect a church. Mr. L. replied, "Go and 
select any part of my land that you wish and take it 
free of any charges." This generous offer was ac- 
cepted, and two lots were chosen in the east part of 
town. Mr. Larkin afterwards donated $100, besides 
lumber, etc. This act of generosity was followed by 
liberal subscriptions from many of the citizen^ of 
Midland. The church building was begun in 1870, 
and was ready for occupancy in one year. 

Father Vanderhaven, of Saginaw City, was the first 
pastor, his visits to the new mission occurring only 
at intervals. Two years afterward Father Sweeney, 
of East Saginaw, held services, and his successor was 
Father McCarthy, now of Mt. Pleasant. The first 
resident pastor was Father Burns, followed by Father 
McNamara, the present pastor. The first class pre- 
sented for confirmation was in 1880, at which time 



^ 



A 



C^' 






fo) 



1 





^^^ 



I 

-A* 

f 



/7s 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^ 



Bishop Burgess, of the Grand Rapids Diocese, pre- 
sided. About 40 apphcants were confirmed. 

The church, which was built at a cost of $i,8oo, is 
paid for, and the society entirely free from debt of any 
kind. A lot adjoining the church premises has just 
been purchased, at a cost of $420, and a modern and 
convenient house will be erected for the residence of 
the pastor. John Haley, James O'Neill and Michael 
Ryan are the present Trustees of the Church. Mrs. 
Wm. B. Kelly, her daughter, Mrs. John Haley and 
Miss Mabana have been zealous and untiring work- 
ers for the cause which they espouse, and it is mainly 
due to their efforts that the society enjoys its present 
prosperity. Under the leadership of their Pastor, 
Father McNamara, they will undoubtedly continue 
in progress and advancement. A choir of ten little 
girls has been organized by him. Miss Lizzie Haley, 
a miss of 13 years, presides at the organ. The Par- 
ish over which the control of Father McNamara ex- 
tends includes Williamstown, Mt. Haley, Hope, 
Ingersoll and Freeland Townships. On the 22d of 
May, 18S4, confirmation was held at the church and 
conducted by Bishop Richter. A class of 30 was re- 
ceived into the Church. 



Secret Societies. 



S^M^ 




K^.ECRET orders are not well represented in 
Midland, there being only two orders now 
|1[!:3' in existence here, the I. O. O. F. having 
met with such disastrous losses by fire that the 
society was discontinued indefinitely. But, 
doubtless, the various beneficent associations, 
with their secret signs of mutual recognition, will in- 
crease in numbers with the increase of population. 

CENTRE LODGE, NO. 273, A. F. & A. .M. 

received its dispensation Nov. 22, 1869. The fol- 
lowing officers served under dispensation : L. Church, 
W. M.; S. Olmstead, S. VV.; W. H. Gallenger, 
J. W.; H. T. Olmstead, Sec; G. A. Janes, Treas.; 
J. V. Lownsbury, S. D.; Edwin M. Witham, J. D.; 
Dan W. Chase, Tyler; Wm. McCreight and James 
W. Allen, Stewards. 

The following gentlemen were charter members : 
Hiram F. Olmstead, James S. Allen, James V. 
Lownsbury, Sherman Olmstead, S. A. Bacon, Geo. 

^3^^^ ^^C^O 3 





Robson, E. M. Witham, Geo. A. Janes, Thomas N. 
Mcintosh, E. H. Beardsley, B. F. Bradley, William 
Patrick, W. H. Gallenger, Wm. McCreight, W. H- 
Reindscoff, Isaac D. Bailey, John W. Anderson, 
E. F. Gould, Mack Anderson, D. W. Chase and 
L. Church. The charter was received bearing 
date Jan. 13, 1870, and the first election under 
the same was held Jan. 20 of that year. Their 
lodge room was dedicated February 3, with appro- 
priate ceremonies, by Deputy Grand Master S. C. 
Warren and Acting Deputy Grand Master J. B. F. 
Curtiss, of Flint, Mich., assisted by Acting Deputy 
Grand Master James Hays, of St. John's Lodge, and 
Acting Deputy Grand Chaplain J. D. Bailey. The 
ceremonies closed with a public installation of the 
following officers : L. Church, W. M.; S. Olmstead, 
S. W.; W. H. Gallenger, J. W.; H. L. Olmstead, Sec; 
G. A. Janes, Treas.; J. V. Lownsbury, S. D.; E. M. 
Witham, J. D.; D. W. Chase, Tyler. 

This lodge has always enjoyed the highest degree 
of prosperity and numbers at this time about 75 mem- 
bers. They have in Midland the finest lodge room 
west of Saginaw, and are out of debt. 

The officers for 1884 are: Rufus T. Clason, W. 
M.; Charles Fournia, S. W.; Ed. Smith, J. W.; Byron 
Burch, Sec; W. L. Sias, Treas.; Edwin Witham, S. 
D.; Maxon Anderson, J. D.; Thomas King, Tyler; 
Geo. A. Janes, Chaplain; Samuel L. Voshell and 
Robert Cluff, Stewards. 

ROYAL ARCANUM. 

Midland Council, No. 671, of this beneficiary or- 
der was instituted April 13, 1882, with 21 charter 
members. From the date of its organization it has 
enjoyed the greatest prosperity, and the members 
are highly delighted with its work. 

The first officers were : J. W. Cochrane, Regent ; 
W. D. Marsh, Vice Regent ; Geo. C. Presley, Orator ; 
Henry Hart, Past Regent; Fred T. Reed, Sec; 
Sam '1 Foster, Collector; Abram Horton, Treas.; Rev. 
Geo. T. Ellis, Chaplain. 

The present officers are: W. D. March, Regent; 
William Kelly, Vice Regent ; Clark G. Russell, Ora- 
tor; Henry Hart, Past Regent; F. T. Reed, Sec; 
H. L. Fairchilds, Collector and Treasurer; Rev. 
Geo. T. Ellis, Chaplain. 

KNIGHTS OF LAROR. 

This order, so extensively distributed throughout 
the United States, is largely represented here. As 



c^ 



^ 



s> 



<) 




m 



;#*- 



■erV<2>Iltl^PD<>T^ 



rr 



4^^f^Jl 



404 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






(h 



(d\ 



sembly No. 2,973 ^^'^^ instituted June 23, 1882, and 
the growth has been both steady and rapid. The 
first officers elected were: Wm. Brown, M. W.; 
Paul Marrin, W. F.; Benjamin Baker, V. S.; Henry 
Cotes, W. F.; Wm. McGill, A.; Judson W. Coon, R. 
S.; John W. Ross, F. S.; Harry W. Beacom, W. T.; 
Robert Murray, S.; Edwin Hodgson, V. K.; Wm. S. 
Norton, I. C; Chas. Foster, O. C; John McKinney, 
J.; Daniel McDonald, J. A. 

The above named gentlemen, with Jeremiah Ward, 
Wm. Cotes, John S. Ayers, James McBaine, James 
Golden and Aaron Hygate, were charter members. 
The order now numbers over So persons, all men of 
intelligence and worth. 

The election of officers for 1884 resulted in a 
choice of Judge Willard, M. W.; John Mitchell, W. 



) 







F.; Paul Lingal, V. S.; Benjamin Baker, W. I.; John 
Matthews, A.: Wilson Beardsley, R. S.; H. W. Bea- 
com, F. S.; John McKay, W. T.; John Bailey, S.; 
John McKinney, V. K.; Patrick Killian, I. C; Mal- 
colm McKizie, O. C; Benj. Freeland, J.; Paul Mar- 
rin, J. A. 

Midland must take a high rank among the villages 
of Northern Michigan. Outside of the Saginaws and 
Bay Cities it would be hard to find a place in these 
northern regions where so many signs of enterprise 
show themselves. Main Street, with its large brick 
blocks, filled with all kinds of merchandise, is an 
honor to her citizens, and of these they may justly 
be proud. It is the third city of importance on the 
line of the Flint & Pere Marquette, Saginaw and Bay 
City alone shipping more products, and that not 
greatly in excess of Midland. 



V®)g^<®A<2)(2>^^ 




'^^C»^^/^®)g^V<5)(S)€^fG) 




Ej^H^S^ 



ROM the first, the political 
|» complexion of this county 
has been strictly Republican. 
The changes in political sen- 
timent have for the past few 
years assimied a more liberal 
phase, and the old party lines 
are not so closely adhered to at 
this time as in former years. 
The "Greenback" element has 
grown rapidly among the labor- 
ing classes, due very largely to 
the stirring appeals made by the 
Midland Sun, a staunch advo- 
cate of that faith. A summary 
is given below of the officials elected in Midland 
County since its organization in 1S55, the years of 
their election being given: 



S. D. Gaskill 
J. E. Willard 



PROBATE JUDGES. 

1 85 6-68 IF. S. Burton 



1868-76 I James Murphy 

REGISTERS OF DEEDS. 

Solon Kumvill 1856 Asa Bacon 

Geo. Turner r858-6o Geo. C. Presley 
Nathan E. Carr 1862 Thos. B. Main 

CLERKS. 



1876-80 
1880 



1864-76 
1878-80 
1882 



D. M. R. Wilson 
Henry Thomson 
J. L. Eastman 
James Bean 

John Larkin 

E. J. Brewster 



A. A. St. John 
\V. Plummer 
Wm. Davidson 




D. G. W. Whiting 1856-8 
H. M. Ellsworth i860 
Geo. Bartlett 1862 

.Alfred Avery 1864-6 

B. F. Keating 1868 



1856-8 
i860 
1862-4 
1866 

TREASURERS. 

1856-74 Roger W. Clason 
1876-80 

SHERIFFS. 

Alfred Avery 
Charles Oscar 
John y. Ryan 
M. Wl Ryan 



1 868 

1870-4 

1876-82 



1882 



1870-2 
1874-6 
1878-80 
1882 



V^ 



6-=.; 









<<3 



^nmniif^ 





V 

> 
/N 



*^: 



s 

b 



MIDLAND cou.vry. 



f? 



CIPXUIT COURT 

J. G. Sutherland 1856 

L. P. Bailey 1858 

C. T. Atvvell i860 
L. P. Bailey 1862 

^ T. P. Tucker 1864 

Henry Hart 1 866 

D. \V. Hitchcock 1S6S 



COMMISSIONERS. 

Henry Hart 
C. W. Tindall 
Byron D. Burch 
Wm. Pluuimer 
Wm. D. Gordon 
H. L. Fairchild 



1870- 

1874 

1876 

1878 

1880 

1882 



Harvey Lyons 1856 
G. F. Hemingway 1858 
D. M. R. Wilson i860 
L. P. Bailey 1862 

C. B. Wright 1864 

Henry Hart 1866-8 

G.F.Hemingway 1870 




PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS. 



J. Van Kleeck 
M. H. Stanford 
J. Van Kleeck 
D. W. Hitchcock 
J. Van Kleeck 
Wm. D. Gordon 



1872 
1874 
1876 
[878 
18S0 



- <«« 



-l^w "i..;. ■"~ ^— *- 



>»» 



. ^a.^Slkl i 



(^ 






mwsv^ 



''in 




EMINISCENCES of great in- 
terest are related of the early 
pioneers, some of which are 
here published to perpetuate 
still further the characteristic 
traits with which those who 
have been residents of the 
ty for a quarter of a century are 
;e familiar. Among those who 
in the village of Midland is Jo- 
Townsend, who was reared from 
ifancy in the woods of this county, 
his youthful days were spent in 
ting, with Indians, the game 
^ which at an early day abounded in 

the forests. Some graphic accounts have been given 
the historian of his exploits in the chase, a few in- 
stances of which are here published. 

Capture of Cubs. 

HEN a lad 14 years of age he, in company 

with young Pay-mos-ey-gay, the son of 

the noted chief of that name, started one 

morning to hunt for small game, having no 

'' weapons save a bow and arrow. Proceeding 

only a short distance, they came upon an old 

■bear with her two cubs. The boys gave chase 




and the bears took to trees, each climbing separate 
ones. Wishing to capture the cubs, it was decided 
that Pay-inos ey-gay should watch the trees while 
Joseph went for his father, the house being only a 
half mile distant. Arriving there, Joseph learned 
that his fatlier was away, and he started for the 
home of his companion, which was only a few rods 
distant. 

Stating the facts to the mother of Pay-mos ey-gay, 
she accompanied him, taking her blanket along. 
Making their way as rapidly as possible to the place 
where the lad was engaged in making noise enough 
to keep the animals from descending, they found the 
bears still in the trees, but evidently very anxious to 
come down. Mrs. Pay-mos-ey-gay hastily stripped 
off some birch bark, and the young hunters ascended 
the trees upon which the cubs were seeking safety. 
Pay-mos-ey-gay shook the cub quite easily from the 
limb upon which it had taken refuge, and it was 
caught by his mother in the blanket as it fell. Tying 
it securely to a tree, arrangements were made to se- 
cure the other in a similar way. This was not so 
easily done, however; for the cub showed fight, and 
attacked 3'oung Townsend quite savagely, biting and 
scratching him until his hands and arms were cov- 
ered with blood. Being quite plucky, Joseph main- 
tained his position as well as he was able, and at last 
succeeded in shaking it from the tree. 



Vto; 



9 

i 

•f^• 



"^ 



D)4^?fss>- 



^^iia^nii^^v^ 





■^rr^K-. 



<m^m>7 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 




^ 



i' 

^ 
^ 



The two cubs being well secured, the boys started 
homeward highly elated with their success, Mrs. 
Pay-mos-ey-gay bringing up the rear. The old bear 
came down from her perch and followed close be- 
hind, growling and snapping her teeth. When she 
came too close, the old lady would brandish her 
tomahawk and shout, which for the time kept her at 
a distance. The old bear grew bolder as they neared 
home and ventured to come within a few feet of them. 
The party were debating the question of dropping 
ihe cubs and making good their escape, when a rifle 
shot rung out upon the morning air and the old bear 
tumbled to the ground. Mr. Townsend had re- 
turned, and, his wife informing liim of the game the 
boys were after, he had started to aid them and 
made his appearance just in time. The scars young 
Townsend received that day will be carried as long 
as he lives, and will ever remind him of his first ven- 
ture in the capture of a live bear. 




1 ^— si^— ^ ? 

Townsend Chased by a Deer. 

sIfSMt another time Mr. Townsend started off for 
sJ^h a hunt, but had gone only a little distance 
6^ from the house before he heard a deer coming, 
followed by a hound which had taken the trail. 
Taking a stand behind a tree, he espied the 
deer, a large buck, coming, and, hastily putting 
up his gun, fired, the ball striking the deer in the 
head, knocking out one of its eyes. The wound 
crazed the deer and he began turning around with 
great rapidity. Townsend proceeded to reload the 
gun, but the bullet became lodged, and despite his 
efforts would not go down. The deer espied him at 
last, and, maddened by the wound, attacked him with 
great fury. Townsend ran around a tree, closely 
pursued by the deer, until, weakened from pain and 
fatigue, the buck lay down a few feet from Joseph, 
who now again tried to force the bullet down in his 
gun. 

At this juncture the dog came up and caught the 
deer by the nose, when a rough-and-tumble struggle 
commenced. Townsend threw down his gun, and, 
running to the deer, caught it by its hind legs and 
endeavored to throw it down. This he failed to ac- 
complish, and, becoming tired and fearful that the 
deer might escape in spite of himself and the dog, he 




halloed for help. It happened that Henry Potter 
and Daniel Cronkright had just arrived at his house, 
and, hearing the shot and baying of the dog, were 
upon the eve of starting to the spot when the hallo 
for help reached their ears. It being no uncommon 
thing for hunters to be attacked by bears, they made 
"all possible speed and reached the spot as Town- 
send's strength was nearly gone. Their united efforts 
finally succeeded in throwing the animal on its side, 
when it was dispatched, even then with difficulty. 
The dog had not relinquished his first hold, and had 
ground its nose to a pulp with his teeth. 

Deer-hunting with Townsend was a perfect speci- 
alty, and he had slaughtered scores of them. The 
last instance in which the task of throwing a deer 
was attempted cured him of all desire for that kind 
of sport, and is here related somewhat briefly. 

-tS!" 

A Deer Chased by Townsend. 

SitAVING only a couple of bullets in his 
ii pockets, he started out to kill a squirrel. 
>d>t About half a mile above where the village of 
Midland is now located he saw a deer and 
fired, wounding, but not entirely disabling it. 
The deer made for the river, into which it 
plunged, but, seeing the dog on the opposite side, 
continued swimming down stream without attempting 
to land. Townsend fired the remaining ball, but the 
deer continued its course. Having no more bullets, 
he made up his mind to catch the buck when it made 
an attempt to land should it come out on his side. 
Following it down the river for almost a mile. Town- 
send saw the deer making for the shore, and, running 
down to the bank, squatted in the pea vines which 
grew in abundance. The buck gained the shore and 
came clambering up the steep bank directly toward 
Townsend, who, when it nearly reached him, sprang 
forward and caught it by both fore-legs. The deer 
gave a tremendous leap and gained the top of the 
bank with Joseph still hanging to its legs! Then 
commenced a struggle for the mastery, in which first 
one then the other was on top. The deer kicked 
nearly all the clothes off Townsend's body and 
bruised him quite severely, yet he held on. After a 
long struggle he succeeded in opening his knife and 




«^ 



(' 



C< 



Si/ 

( 



Ju 



C^t) tl >:[1 Hr^'r^ — ^^«^^ 







$^^- 



"Z^^^^iST 



^ 



^^) 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



•';^^^^ 



--^^((gvil) 



407 



cutting the deer's throat. When this was accom- 
plished he stood up, and, putting his foot upon the 
dying buck, remarked as he glanced at his torn and 
muddy garments, "D — n ye! I've got ye at last." 
Just at this moment a ringing laugh at his side 
startled him, and his uncle, Charles Cronkright, 
stepped from behind a tree, — " You've done pretty 
well, Jo," said he, " for I've watched the wliole per- 
formance." 

.The fact tliat this was done without lending a 
heliiing hand made Tovvnsend angry, and he would 
not allow his uncle to have any of the venison wliich 
lie had labored so hard to secure. 

— #^^iB-<^€~ 

Thirteen Deer in a Snow Prison. 

' NE other incident is related of early days, 
lift which is true, although seemingly incredible. 
In 1S54 there was a tremendous snow- 
storm, lasting for several days, and the snow, 
when it ceased, was four feet deep en a level. 
A cold, drizzling rain set in, which, freezing as 
it tell, formed a hard crust upon the snow, and travel, 
except upon snow-shoes, was impossible. 

Close to the Townsends lived a number of Indians, 
one of whom was observed to come home every day 
dragging behind him a deer. This was something 
out of the usual order of things, and he was watched 
by the Townsends. The next day he returned with 
another deer. Joseph and his father sat out in quest 
of the bonanza, and soon found the trail made by 
the Indian, which was followed only a few rods into 
the forest when they came upon a drove of deer 13 
in number! They were hemmed in by a snow wall 
nearly five feet in height, the space which they occu- 
pied being less than 50 feet square. A trail led from 
that to a clump of small pines near by, where a sim- 
ilar enclosure had been formed, the deer having 
taken refuge among these pines wliile the storm was 
in progress, and in walking about had kept the snow 
beaten down. The animals had evidently been thus 
imprisoned for several weeks, subsisting entirely on 
the pine boughs. The Indian had found them while 
hunting, and instead of killing them with a rifle, had 
been knocking them in the head with his hatchet, to 
avoid letting his neighbors know of the " find." 





The Townsends carried one home that and the 
next day, when a warm rain came, melting the crust, 
and the deer were liberated. 



Surprise to Gov. Begole. 

VY another time the present Governor Begole 
-j-^^^ came to Mr. Townsend's house to stay all 
,&§/ night, being in the neighborhood looking after 
i?,r his lands. They had a venison steak for sup- 
per, which Mr. Begole enjoyed "immensely.' 
Expressing a desire to have a piece of nice venison to 
take home, Jo told him that perhaps a deer might be 
secured in time, although he intended returning the 
next morning. Arising early, Mr. Town send shoul- 
dered his rifle, and, as good fortune would have it, 
he had not been gone more than a half hour wlien he 
brought down a fine buck. The deer was taken 
home, dressed, and some savory steaks \vere frying 
when Mr. Begole came out ready for breakfast. He 
expressed much surprise that a deer could be found 
so early in the morning, and enjoyed the satisfaction 
of knowing that he was to carry home the "saddle" 
of a prime deer. 

Townsend had since then forgotten all about the 
affair until the Governor casually mentioned it a 
short time ago. 



Hard Times. 






pir^i 



I 

' — ' 

I — r 






x?lOME of the early settlers had very hard 
t times in making a living for their families. 
''' Teams were scarce, and the land was 
covered witli stumps to such a degree that 
farming could hardly be thought of. 

Uncle Jacolj Wiltz, one of the pioneers of 
Homer Township, had an old ox that he called Tom, 
which did all his own work and much also for the 
neighbors for two or three years. Old Tom was used 
for plowing, log-rolling and going to mill ; and Uncle 
Wiltz yet remarks that Tom made the handsomest 
team he ever owned. 

Mr. Wil'z used to split shingles, tie thn bunches 




^«^# 



J^ 



■^m'wm>^^ — ^^ 




* 



)(^tl 



^9- 



T<-:llIl^llllr>-rT^ :^^^ #^§^((®VS 



408 






t 






:^: 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 




together with a rope and float them to Saginaw, 
guiding them by means of his canoe, which was tlie 
usual method of conveyance to and from Saginaw. 
The shingles, after being thus made and taken to 
market, only brought §3 per thousand, and tlie goods 
purchased were sold at exorbitant figures, thus mak- 
ing it hard to support the family with even the most 
rigid economy. 

Indian Small-Pox. 



HE first frame barn erected in the county 
was built by Charles Fitzhugh, at a point 
tsJ&S"'^'* opposite the town of Midland. 'I'heie 
■^. were no carpenters in the country, and Fitz- 
T hugh employed a man by the name of Cham- 
I berlain, who lived ten miles below, to build it. 
Chamberlain frequently walked home nights, as his 
family were alone and the small-pox was at that time 
raging fearfully among the Indians, and likely to 
make its appearance at any time in his family. Tlie 
mortality among the Indians was enormous, the 
"medicine man" being powerless to relieve them. 
Delirious, burning with fever, they would crawl from 
their huts along tlie river bank to the edge of 
the stream, where, drinkmg their fill, many 
of them died, and their bodies were often found 
floating in the river. 

But to return to the story. Chamberlain was com- 
ing from home early one morning, and, feeling 
thirsty, stopped below a clump of willows which 
grew along the river bank and took a hearty draught 
of the cold water. As he continued his journey he 
espied two dead Indians floating among the willows 
hot 30 feet from the place where he had been drink- 
ing! The remembrance of this event effectually 
cured him of drir.kmg river water. 



^feuMA, 



Indian Etiquette — Ugh! 



\ N the spring of 1S46, John A. Whitman was 
t making sugar, and the trees were running 
copiously. The Indians on the opposite 
Wiy side of the river had made preparations for, 
p*; and were just beginning, their " sugar dance," 
when Whitman was sent for. As he was then 
engaged in " sugaring off, ' it was impossible to leave 



his kettles. The Indians were determined to have 
him come, however, and sent two young squaws over 
to attend the kettles. Mr. Whitman crossed the 
river in the canoe used by tlie squaws, and found the 
Indians having a "high old time." Wliisky in 
abundance had been procured, and nearly all of 
them, both male and female, were already drunk, 
wjiile the old squaws were busily engaged making 
sturgeon soup in huge iron kettles. Whitman was 
handed a dish, and an old squaw poured in a gourd- 
ful of soup, which was too hot to drink. After hold- 
ing it a short time in his hands, the squaw came 
back to ascertain if it had cooled enough, and while 
trying to taste it she, being quite drunk, fell forward 
and stuck her face into the dish up to her ayes. To 
refuse eating tlie soup would have been a breach of 
etiquette which an Indian would not have overlooked, 
and Mr. Whitman swallowed it like a martyr. His 
taste for sturgeon soup has never been so good 
since ! 



•se'-- 




k 




A Bear's Vengeance. 

~ M. Davis, while out hunting near John 
Whitman's, came up to a number of In- 
i^i^ ' dians that had gone into camp near the 
V river. Davis had been unsuccessful in the 
chase, and told the Indians if they would 
find a bear they should be paid for their trouble, 
as he was quite anxious to kill' one. Two of them 
started out, and soon returned with the information 
that a fine cub was in a tree about half a mile distant. 
The place was described, and Davis started, feeling 
quite elated at the prospect of securing such noble 
game. Reaching the place indicated, he saw the cub 
extended on a limb, lazily sucking its paw. In his 
hurry to fire, the aim was not accurately taken and 
the cub but slightly wounded. It set up a howl as 
it tumbled from the tree, but, falling in a clump of 
briers, Davis could not see closely enough to get 
another shot. As he was cr.-'.wling about upon his 
hands and knees to get another shot, the old bear came 
tearing through the bushes and attacked him furious- 
ly, grabbing him by the seat of his trousers and shak- 
ing him as if he were a rat. This scared Davis so 
badly that in his fright the gun, which was already 
cocked, was discharged, leaving him comparatively 






o 

t 



w 



^ 



e^^D mM^n>^r9 ^^^ 




B 






'^ 



•J^^tf* 



■6V4>Illl^llIlv>^ 



rr- 



r^^^f^-ii 









V 



(^ 



^ 



MWLANn COUNTY. 



409 



at the mercy of Mrs. Bruin. Davis called loudly for 
help, and struggled so manfully that he finally escaped 
from the old bear's clutches, minus the major part of 
his trousers and vest. Mr. Whitman, having heard 
his first cries, went to his relief, and the two managed 
to dispatch both the old bear and the cub. It was 
providential that Mr. Whitman was so near, else the 
second attack of tiie old bear might have resulted 
disastrously for Davis, such animals frequently becom- 
ing ([uite vindictive while protecting their young. 



Three "Immense" Bears! 

fjn'rOHN Whitman tells a story about a fellow 
named Wm. Perkins, who used to live in 
' Edenville Township. Perkins came down 
to Whitman's neighborhood, and while roaming 
in the woods espied three bear cubs in a tree. 
Although he had a gun, he was quite cowardly, 
and seeing so many bears at once frightened him so 
badly that his gun was discharged by accident. He 
ran as fast as his legs could carry him to Mr. Whit- 
man's house, and imparted the information that he 
had seen three immense bears out in the woods, and 
asked Mr. Whitman to go with him and help kill 
them. When they arrived the cubs were still on 
the tree, but were so small that they more nearly 
resembled raccoons than bears. 

This occurrence was esteemed ([uite a joke in 
pioneer life, for bears were so numerous and the men 
so fearless that to run from a bear, much less a cub, 
was considered disgraceful. 




Over-ruling the Verdict. 

MOME of the most amusing things happen- 
ing in an early day were the dicisions given 
by some of the local justices of the peace. 




One of the first justices in the county was Tom. 
K. Townsend, who attended to most of the 
legal business in the neighborhood of Midland. 
A case of assault and battery was brought before him 
at an early day and the parties demanded a trial l)y 
jury. Alfred Willie had struck James Hill, and the 



parties were arrested by Joe Townsend, who was 
then acting as constable. Being men of note and 
having considerable money, both the parties to the 
suithad employed counsel from Saginaw, and the case 
was heard upon its merits, a great deal of sharp firing 
being indulged in by the lawyers. Their pleas to the 
jury were masterly efforts, and these tried and true 
men retired to deliberate and bring in their verdict. 
After being out a short time they decided that the 
provocation was ample enough to allow Willie to 
strike Hill, and as but little physical damage had 
been done the damage was placed at " six cents." 
This raised the ire of Esquire Townsend, who gave 
the jury to understand that "six cents" would not 
settle the matter, and, over-ruling their verdict, 
promptly fined Willie $2, and costs of suit. 





Indian Shrewdness in Court. 

I^^ENRY C. Ashman, although a half-breed 
|| Indian, was, in his day, accounted the most 
shrewd lawyer in Northern Michigan. The 
Bar of Saginaw would rather meet any lawyer in 
the State than Ashman, for his legal tricks al- 
most always proved more than a match for their 
eloquence. 

Henry went to Saginaw one day "on a bum," and it 
happened that an Irishman had stolen a pig from 
some one in the neighborhood, and was then arraigned 
before his honor, Seth Willie. The complainant had 
employed eminent counsel, and the pig having been 
found in possession of the Irishman, his conviction 
seemed certain. The poor fellow from Erin did not 
seem to understand the gravity of the offence, and 
had not employed any lawyer to defend him. Henry 
Ashman, seeing a number of men gathered about the 
cabin where the Justice held his court, sauntered up to 
see what was going on. Esquire Willie happened to see 
Ashman coming, and called him in. He told Henry 
to take charge of his prisoner's case, as he had em- 
ployed no lawyer. Ashman said he would do it, but 
as he knew nothing whatever about the circumstances 
leading to the arrest, would first have to talk a few 
minutes with the Irishman. As there was but one 
room, in which the Esquire, counsel for the plaintiff 
and the loafers were crowded. Ashman asked that 
the prisoner be allowed to step outside for a few 



^ 






0) 







MIDLAND COUNTS 



) 

A 



>^ 



k) 



(^ 



minutes. Leave being granted, they withdrew, and 
Ashman, taking the fellow around the corner of the 
house, said : "Did you steal that hog ?" "Yes," said 
Pat. "Have you got any money," asked Ashman. 
"Tin dollars, me frind," answered the Irishman. 
"Then give me half of it," said Ashman, "and skip 
for the woods, and don't stop, for they'll have you 
sure if you are caught." The fellow handed him five 
dollars and fled like a frightened deer for the woods, 
and to this date has never been heard of. 

Ashman sat down on a stump outside and com- 
placently lighted his pipe. After waiting, as the Jus- 
tice thought, quite long enough for the necessary in- 
formation to be obtained, a messenger was dispatched 
to tell them to come in. Ashman responded promptly, 
when the Justice, seeing him alone, asked where the 
prisoner was. "Gone to h — 1, d — n him!" said Ash- 
man. "The d— d Irishman stole the r.og and I 
wouldn't have anything to do with him. He con- 
fessed to me that he stole the hog. Let him rip, and 
enter a verdict of guilty." This announcement was 
a poser to everybody but Ashman, but as the prisoner 
was "non est," nothing more could be done. 

Swallowed the Account. 

l{^^«!l,T another time Mr. Ashman was employed 
^^S^^'L hy Frank Cole to defend his c ause. P. C. 
'3'!®'^ Andre, a merchant, had sued him for a bill 
':^-^P which had been accumulating for some time, 
•K and Cole refused to pay. Andre had kept no 
1 book account, but simply marked the items 
on a sheet of paper. He had every lawyer employed 
that resided in Saginaw, hoping by this means to keep 
Cole from employing any but a shyster; but in this 
he was mistaken. The trial commenced, and the 
lawyers for Andre chuckled with satisfaction as they 
imagined the discomfiture of Ashman. As no books 
had been kept, the account was brought into court 
and was lying on the table, around which was seated 
the legal luminaries with their books already marked 
at every point whicli had a bearing on their case. 

Ashman's quick eye discerned the important paper 
which contained the items, dates, £tc., and knowing 
that his client's case was hopeless unless this paper 
could be secured, cautiously reached out his hand, 




and, while the attention of the attorneys was engaged 
elsewhere, he slipped the paper into his mouth in 
bits, and calmly chewed and swallowed the entire ac- 
count! He was just finishing the last piece when one 
of his opponents noticed the manneuver and also 
missed the account. 

"We are ready for trial, your honor," said Ashman, 
as he coolly expectorated the last mouthful of the 
well masticated account into the cuspidore. "If there 
be no objection I should like to look at the account 
against my client," said Ashman. A search for the 
paper failed to produce it. Tiie lawyer who had 
noticed him manipulating the paper declared that 
Ashman had swallowed it. "Prove it, tlien," said this 
erratic individual. Tlie account being thus disposed 
of, the case was dismissed at complainant's cost, and 
another victory, although somewhat dishonestly 
gained, was checked up against the Saginaw lawyers. 
Ashman was then and there voted the most adroit 
knave among them all. 

The Champion Drinker. 

Tg e '/'■'■ -^ 

T; pf;: ARVEY LYON, one of the oldest veterans 

*:->-/; now living in Midland, relates with great 

-' , ■'■" yusto some of the old-tune remmiscences 

^■v* • ■ 

(JJ lii which he look an active part. According to 

i his story, every one of the early settlers was a 

I lover of whisky, and it formed a staple article 

of sustenance in many cases. In the days that 

canoes carried all the provisions from Saginaw, every 

one upon his return journey brought back a gallon or 

two of whisky. Vovagers going down would row 

across to the canoe that was coming up, and the jug 

was put into circulation, thus making merry all hands 

around. 

A lot of the fellows living in the neighborhood of 

Midland had been down to Saginaw, and did not 

arrive home until almost morning. They put up at 

Larkin's Hotel, all of them being pretty well "corned," 

which of course added nothing lothe quietness which 

ought to prevail in a well regulated hotel so early in 

the morning. Yarns were told, songs sung and a 

general revelry continued until almost daylight, when 

those who were fullest became drowsy, and most of 

them went to sleep. 



v£' 



9 

A 



c^- 






'r^ 



'rv^^^tf^ 



<^l!fl^Dllf5>-^ ^^€^^ 



^^^f 





^m4^ 



^^ 



> 



2 

f 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-8»S 



l^^f 



Among the wide-awake ones was William Mc- 
Crary. A stranger came into the bar-room about 
daybreak with a jug to get some liquor. The jug 
proved too small to hold the contents of the measure, 
and a glassful was left, — not one of the kind that 
holds a " thimbleful," but a good old-fashioned one 
that encircles a pint of the precious fluid. The cor- 
dial stranger, wishing to appear social, passed around 
the glass to the boys who were yet awake, but all of 
them declined on the score of having already as 
much sail as they could carry, until the fellow came 
to McCrary. When the glass was proffered to "Mac" 
he said, " I don't like to see ye drink alone, stranger; 
so, go ahead and I'll help you out." The fellow in- 
sisted upon McCvary taking the first draught, which 
he declined but subsequently accepted, as he "didn't 
want to hurt the feelings of the stranger." Without 
drawing a breath or removing his lips from the glass 
he drained it of its contents, and, turning to the as- 
tonished looker-on, said, " I should call this pretty 
good liquor." "Yes, it is," said the stranger, " and I 
think you have the best throat for it I have ever 
seen!" 

McCrary still lives, despite the pernicious effects of 
the " thistle dew," and is one of the greatest temper- 
ance advocates of Edenville Township and one of 
her most respected men. 

At an early day it was considered just the thing to 
be able to knock a man out in four rounds, and to 
stand up after drinking the balance of the boys 
drunk was an accomplishment to be proud of. Sun- 
days were always spent at " The Forks," as Midland 
was then called, in jumping, wrestling, shooting at 
mark, and other athletic sports, and men would come 
for miles away to have a jolly time together on that 
day. 



Another Liquor Story. 



1 



WO brothers-in-law, Nathaniel Huntley and 
George Eldridge, were residents of Eden. 
_ ville Township at an early day. They had 

■ U^i* a dispute about some trivial matter, and Hunt- 
ley made a pass with his fist as though he in- 
tended knocking Eldiidge down. Eldridge, not 
to be thus intimidated, let fly with his "right duke" 
and Huntley was knocked senseless. After recover- 




ing consciousness, Huntley picked himself up and 
called at the office of Justice Geo. Baker, who, after 
hearing a recital of Huntley's wrongs, issued a war- 
rant for the arrest of Eldridge. The parties with 
their witnesses came up for trial, and after the 
evidence had been heard and sifted by the legal 
functionaries, he decided that both parties were 
equally guilty, and fined Huntley $5 for assault, and 
Eldridge $5 for battery, and each one to pay half 
the costs. The latter refused to pay his fine, and 
the Justice issued a commitment. John Nottingham, 
the Constable, started with his prisoner to Midland. 
They had proceeded as far as Edenville, when they 
stopped at the saloon to get a drink. The boys who 
were congregated around joined in a "health to Eld- 
ridge," a " successful journey," etc., until the consta- 
ble became very much intoxicated, — so much so that 
he could travel no farther, and consequently remained 
a guest at the hotel for a couple of days. In the 
meantime Eldridge returned home, and when Not- 
tingham had sufficiently recovered from his spree he 
did likewise. This ended the case nothing more be- 
ing done by Esquire Baker, he seeming to be well 
pleased with the fine and costs paid by Huntley. 



A Fine to be Paid in Liquor. 



^mMM. 






Vto; 



9 



V) 



' I r,LY McCraiy, at an early day in the his- 
'\ tory of Averill, started a saloon and lunch 
' counter in that burg, which was known as 
the "Red Keg." Averill being the terminus 
for some time of the Flint & Pere Marquette 
Road, every one that wanted to come to 
Midland on the cars made that place an objective 
point. A number of men from the lumber camp at 
"Sixteen" came to Averill one day "on a bum," and 
the "Red Keg" was headquarters, of course. 

Among the men who were imbibing most liberally 
was a woodsman who at last did something which 
ve.xed McCrary, .and the latter with a well-aimed 
blow knocked the fellow out of time and tune. A 
constable standing near arrested "Billy," and was 
just starting over to the office of a Justice, when 
Charley Axford, one of the most widely known men 
in the county, stepped up and said, "What are you 
taking him to a Justice for .' Try him before me; I 




^\®?^^ 



.^-J. 



^c^Dfl^nnf^-^ — ^'^^ 





"IZf^^^ 



■crvv-: 



<^i]n^iiii^>r 



";2tf^^^vj^ 



-#^fs^x|^ 



412 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



d, 



V 

- ^ 



am in the business and can do it as well as any- 
body." To this the parties agreed, and they ad- 
journed to Avery's hotel. "Stand up, Billy; God 
Almighty made you," said A.\ford. "Are you guilty 
or not guilty.'" "Guilty, your honor," said McCrary. 
"Then I fine you $3 and whisky for the crowd," was 
Axford's reply ; "we will now adjourn to the 'Red 
Keg' and collect the fine and costs." The boys took 
a drink, and 'Squire Axford, laying the $3 on the 
counter which McCrary had just paid, said, "Let's 
put the fine with the costs. Set 'em up, Billy, as 
long as the money holds out." Thus was justice 
meted out and everybody satisfied! 



Did Not Pass. 

^^^MrHE second candidate for admission to the 
Bar was Leonidas P. Bailey. He had been 
Justice of the Peace several terms and had 
;r„v> read souie in the statutes of Michigan. Judge 
Turner presided, and Bailey came up smiling 
to the front to be questioned. Hon. John 
Moore and two other gentlemen were appointed a 
committee to examine hi.n, and it was observed that 
Bailey answered promptly and correctly. 

One of the others was then asked to question him, 
and the answers suddenly became defective and less 
brilliant than before. Judge Turner noticed Bailey's 
confusion and suggested that Mr. Moore should pro- 
ceed with the questions, as Mr. Bailey was quite 
bashful. " Your Honor," said Mr. Moore, "I have 
already asked him all the questions he gave me, and 
I fear what I should ask would nonplus the candi- 
date more than those already propounded!" 

It is needless, perhaps, to add that the candidate 
did not pass. 





Liquor Still Ahead. 

rii/ !«^^vENRY W. Patterson employed Ashman as 
T jii;^; counsel in a case in which damages were 
^ claimed by reason of Charles Fitzhugh's 
horse coming through a fence and destroying 
Patterson's wheat. The horse was confined in- 
side a brush fence, but, breaking through, had 
opportunity to do the mischief. It was not denied 



that the horse did the damage, but Fitzhugh claimed 
that his was a "legal brush fence." The trouble 
seemed to be in establishing what kind of a fence 
constituted a legal one of the kind mentioned, sev- 
eral witnesses testifying as to their opinion regarding 
it. Ashman swore that a brush fence, to be legal, 
must be "four rods high and six rods wide !" The 
case was decided against Patterson, who took it to 
the Circuit Court at Saginaw, leaving it in charge of 
Ashman, who, when the case was called, was so full 
of "tanglefoot" that he forgot to appear, and of course 
it was decided atjainst Patterson the second time. 



Divorced by a Justice. 

Abraham Egbert, the pioneer of Egbert 
ir Township, was its first Justice. It is rela- 
..;* " ted of him that he married a German by the 
name of Jacob Hagar, to a German woman 
li^" fresh from the old country. After living 
1 together for several months in rather an unsat- 
isfactory manner, they again appealed to Egbert, who 
divorced them, as he supposed, in a legitimate way. 
The leaf of the docket containing a full history of 
the affair was abstracted from that record by Timothy 
Jerome and given to a friend in Detroit, who had it 
framed and kept it for years as a relic. This was un- 
fortunately lost. 








Inquest, Liquor, Peculation. 

HILE Axford was acting Justice, a man 
_ by the name of Johnson was found dead 

Pi^ ' uix)n the ice a few miles above "Sixteen," 
■ and a team was sent up to bring the body 
down to the hotel, that an inquest might be 
* held, as it was too intensely cold for the same 

to be conducted where the body was found. The 
remains were placed in a room at the hotel, a jury 
was empaneled, Tom Moore acted as clerk, and the 
inquest proceeded. Johnson was quite well known 
at "Sixteen," and the boys were bound to do the fair 
thing at the incpiest, if they never had while John- 
son was one of their number. 



*s;. 



c< 






V 

1 



^ 



Kj))4^#- 



v!!2l. 



^ 



c^iig^nnf^^ 



A. 



s^j^-yf^ 




■ 



SCSii; 



W^ 



T7 



T<>iia^iiD>^v 



—^srira^Xi- 



^m^\W, 



MJDLANn COUNTY. 



413 



r 






6) 



/<S 



>^ 






t 



At the beginning of the inquest there was a ten- 
gallon keg of whisky in the 100m, but it disappeared 
very rapidly, and testimony Ijecame harder and 
harder to procure. One of the witnesses was a 
teamster who was anxious to go on with his logging, 
and the evening of the second day he hitched up his 
horses and started for the camp. Moore told Esq. 
Axford that it was against the law for a witness to 
leave before the trial was over. A cajjins was issued 
and an officer dispatched for the fellow who had so 
signally offended the dignity of the court. The 
officer returned the next day with the unwilling wit- 
ness, and he was given a hearing before the magis- 
trate, who imposed a fine of $10 and costs for his 
"contempt of court." 

The inquest then proceeded, and as the last drop 
of whisky was drawn out of the keg on the evening 
of the third day a verdict was reachedj which de- 
termined that Johnson came to his death from natural 
causes, he being too drunk to withstand the cold 
which then prevailed. 

Axford agreed to give Tom Moore half the fee be 
received from the county, and put in his bill for $120; 
but the Board of Supervisors allowed only $40, which 
he kept, insisting always that he could not collect 
Moore's half! 






A Sheriff Done For. 

[S most business affairs were conducted at 
%, "Sixteen," a ereat many reminiscences cen- 
|ll^^?^ ter there. Many of the men were a lawless 
set, as inentioned in the history of Edenville, 

.;(^ while others were peaceable and law-abiding 

I citizens. 

Charley Axford had given a mortgage upon his 
team, which Sheriff Rankin, of Saginaw, came to 
Edenville to close. Axford not being at home, sev- 
eral of the boys concluded not to let Rankin take 
the team. Waiting until the Sheriff went to the barn 
for them, Will McKeever, Thomas Moore and Dan 
E. Grover locked the door and gave Rankin to un- 
derstand that his fate would be slow starvation unless 
he consented at once to leave and never show his 
face in the township again. To this Rankin con- 
sented, and Moore let him out at the door. Rankin 





did make tracks as lively as possible, leaving the 
team behind, which to this date has not been called 
for. 



<«Aeer!s^g-«— ^^^^ 



.^^%iU7P!i^ 



Serio- Comical. 



^Js^^ 




^ 



<^I1!1 



STORY is told about Tom Snj der, of Eden- 
ville, that is well worth preserving. He was 
one of the greatest cowards when he came 
the into woods that ever lived, and feared even 
the rustle of the wind through the pine trees, 
detecting in every breath the steps of an ap- 
proaching bear or a wily Indian. 

Tom had a few dollars in money when he arrived 
at " Sixteen," but, like many other fellows, had spent 
it nearly all before making an effort to do anything. 
Instead of working, Tom decided to become a hunter, 
and, purchasing a long rifle, one large and one small 
revolver, a dirk knife, with plenty of tobacco and 
ammunition, he made his way into the forests border- 
ing on Tobacco Creek. Here he tramped and hunt- 
ed and fished for more than a month, frightening away 
the small amount of game accidentally stumbled upon, 
but killing nothing. H§ had boarded during the 
time with a family living in the woods, who, despair- 
ing of getting their pay, seized his rifle for the debt. 
Tom having neither gun nor ammunition, thought 
best to go down to "Sixteen " and get a job. He 
started down the Tobacco in a canoe that he had 
built with boards, detetmined to leave nothing behin'd, 
and feeling much safer on the water, for there neither 
Indian nor prowling lynx could creep upon him un- 
awares. His knife was carried in his belt, the small 
revolver in his breast pocket, the large one in the hip, 
or pistol, pocket of his trowsers. 

It was late in the afternoon of a November day 
that Tom embarked. The ice was rapidly forming 
along the banks of the stream, and the wind howled 
disrnally through the tree-tops. He was lazily drift- 
ing along when a splash in the water behind him 
arrested his attention. " What if it should be an 
Indian throwing at me?" feaifully soliloquized Tom. 
Feeling for his revolver, he was horrified to find it 
gone. It occurred to him that perhaps it had fallen 
into the water when the splash was heard. He con- 
cluded to tie up the boat, take off his clothes and feel 






?o- 






0) 




r^:n^^DD^.> 



414 






:^j 



'0 



v) 



(f> 



"v- 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-*#^^^ 



around for it, as most of his wealth was represented 
by it. Acting upon this idea, Tom waded into the 
freezing water up to his chin, but the most patient 
search failed to restore it. 

Hastily dressing, he hurried on his way, when he 
espied an old trapper named Dumont, who for years 
had lived in that neighborhood. Dumont was a hard- 
looking specimen, wearing his hair and beard for 
years without cutting or combing, and his hailing 
Tom almost scared the latter out of his wits. "Where 
are you going?" inquired Dumont. "Down toSixteen," 
answered Tom. "Come ashore, then," said Dumont; 
"the dam below is too high for a boat to go over." 
Tom declined to do as suggested, believing the old 
fellow wanted to rob and perhaps murder him. So he 
plied the paddle vigorously, and the old man was 
soon out of sight. 

Presently the roar of the water-fall warned Tom 
that it would be policy to go ashore and examine the 
dam. Sending his boat up to the bank, Tom leaped 
out, when by his side was Dumont. "Vou had better 
go home with me and finish your trip to-morrow," said 
the old man; I live only a mile below." Tom dared 
not refuse, feeling that death was certain in either 
case. He therefore consented, when Dumont said, 
"Let us send the boat over and we can pick it up be- 
low." The canoe was then pushed into the river, but 
it unfortunately filled with water and sank. Dark- 
ness rapidly coming on, Tom scarcely knew what to 
do. His knees smote together, and he became more 
convinced at every step that Dumont intended to kill 
him. "What other reason could he have for pushing 
the boat into the river?" thought Tom. 

Following along until Dumont was 50 yards ahead, 
Tom darted into the woods and ran for dear life. He 
soon came to a fallen tree, under which he crawled, 
his joy at thus escaping death being almost greater 
than he could bear, when Dumont's voice was heard 
calling him. Not daring to reply, he huddled still closer 
and prayed for darkness, which soon came. Dumont's 
footsteps could be heard as he moved off toward his 
cabin, and Tom breathed easier. By this time it had 
grown intensely dark and a drizzling sleet and rain 
storm set in. Tom became soaked to the skin, and 
fearing that he would freeze to death, concluded to 
risk building a fire if it could be accomplished. While 
thus engaged, the remaining revolver dropped from 
his pocket to the ground and the fire was built upon 





it. As he stood by the cheerful blaze warming his 
benumbed hands, one chamber of the revolver ex 
ploded, scattering the burning brands in every direc- 
tion. Supposing it was Dumont concealed in the 
brush (!) and firing at him, his fright increased in a 
ten-fold ratio. Kicking the burning sticks in every 
direction, hoping thereby to put out the fire which 
had betrayed his location, he then took refuge behind 
a tree, hoping to contrive some means of skipping 
away unobserved, when he was startled the second 
time by another loud report, as the coals were whisked 
toward him. This made his conviction certain 
that Dumont would kill him unless he removed far 
from the fire light, and he executed a flank move- 
ment through the dense underbrush to what he con- 
sidered a safe distance from the assassin's bullet. 

Daylight came at last, and Snyder, almost per- 
ished with cold, mustered uj) courage enough to ap- 
proach the spot where a few coals were yet smolder- 
ing, when he saw the barrel of his revolver peeping 
from the ashes. The cause of the firing was thus 
made intelligible, and Tom cursed his cowardly legs 
which ran away with his brave body. He made his 
way to "Sixteen," and little by little told the story as 
above related. Tom still tells the story, but has long 
since learned that a lively imagination is tlie greatest 
cause for fear. 



-.^.v^/V/V' 




Too Much "Cross Haul." 

HE jokes played on the greenhorns that 
^ came to the lumber camps to obtain em- 
ployment were many and varied. One of 
^_,^_ the best was that which was played upon a 
y fellow who came to Leon Pryor's camp. The 
I proprietor " sized ' the fellow up and detemiin- 
ed to have a bit of fun should he ask for a job. That 
being the stranger's business, Pryor told him that he 
had men enough in the woods but needed one to go 
to "Sixteen " for a " cross liaul." (This term needs no 
explanation to a resident of Northern Michigan, but 
for the information of readers living remote from 
lumber camps, we would say that a "cross haul" is a 
road cut opposite a tram-way upon which logs are 
loaded.) 

Tlie fellow, whom we will call " Jones " to preserve 
his identity, agreed to go, and was given a note of in 



V_ 



A 



Co: 



V 



'h^ 



m 



^>^ 



44^f 




^N^mm^^- 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



"^^^f^iZT 



sf* 



troduction to Tom. Moore, who was expected to carry 
out the joke without further instructions. Jones 
came walking in and proffered the note to Moore, who 
readily caught the inspiration. Loading a sack with 
80 pounds of old iron and giving hiiii a 24-pound 
dumb-bell to carry in the other hand, Moore dismiss- 
ed him with the injunction to carry the bag carefully, 
so the machinery would not be disarranged. Jones 
promised to be particular, and trudged wearily over 
the eight miles of sand and stumps before the camp 
was reached. He told Pryor as he entered, almost 
exhausted, that he didn't intend to carry any more 
"cross hauls." "You don't?" exclaimed Pryor; "then 
what are you doing here? I only need you for this 
purpose." 

Jones left tlie camp at once, determined to seek 
more congenial employment. 




Hough and Tumble. 

^f HERE has always been more or less feeling 

existing between Tom Moore and Charley 

^W^""^ Axford, they being rivals in the hotel busi- 

aJn)> ness and many other enterprises. Moore is 

Y quite a practical joker, and often indulges this 

I trait in his character, which has been the oc- 
casion of many a hearty laugh. 

Moore, Axford, Dave Porter and Ben Howard were 
returning from Midland, where they had been trans- 
acting some business matters, and all were pretty well 
"corned." Three of them sat on the spring seat, the 
other on a barrel of lime in the back part of the 
wagon. The driver struck a stump before reaching 
Edenville, and the tongue was broken quite badly. 
Repairing it as well as they were able, they traveled 
along quite well until they reached the steep hill 
near the Edenville school-house. Moore suggested 
that they all walk down the hill for fear the broken 
wagon tongue would not stand the strain. Axford 
insisted that the team was his own, that the broken 
tongue was perfectly safe and the driver should let 
the horses run at full speed down tlie hill. The lat- 
ter plan was agreed upon and the horses were given 
the whip. Away they flew, but the ride, like Gilpin's, 
was very brief. Half-way down the hill the wagon 
tongue broke again, and the wheels, veering suddenly. 




overturned the wagon upon the driver, while Ben 
Howard, who was sitting upon the lime barrel hold- 
ing a large mirror on his lap, was precipitated into 
the creek below. Axford was thrown almost off the 
bridge and would have fallen into the creek but from 
the fact that the lime barrel was across his legs. 
Moore landed on his feet just in time to see the 
horses flying up tlie hill with the whiffletrees dangling 
at their heels. Mr. Moore then turned liis attention 
to the rescue of his companions. Porter being still 
imprisoned under the wagon box, was yelling vocifer- 
ously for aid. He was liberated, and Charley Axford 
helped upon his feet. By this time Ben Howard had 
scrambled out of the creek, and upon comparing 
notes it was found that all had escaped serious in- 
jury. 

Dan Grover and Philip Flock, seeing the horses 
coming without a driver, thought something must be 
wrong, and hitching them to another vehicle, started 
in search of the party. Charley Axford was consider- 
ably overcome by the effects of " thistle dew," as well 
as shaken up by the fall, and was laid in the wagon, 
after which the remainder of the freight was trans- 
ferred from the broken one. In doing this, Tom 
Moore hurt his hand severely, and it bled freely. 
Thinking it a good time to play a joke on Charley, he 
rubbed the blood over his face, which when com- 
pleted looked gory enough to strike terror into the 
heart of a Comanche Indian. Driving up to Ax- 
ford's house, he was carried in and laid on the bed. 
The boys, knowing nothing serious was the matter, 
thought it good fun to frighten the old lady any way. 
The dame known as "Biddy Norman" made her 
home at Axford's, and she remarked, while taking in 
the situation, "An' sure, an' its a bad head he'll have 
upon him in the marnin'!" The joke leaked out 
after Charley was washed up, and Tom barely es- 
caped a licking for his fun. 






I 



C< 






EfiTect of Eating Bear Steak. 



g^'fe^gfc 




[ GOOD story is told on Alex. Bowman, who 

' came to Edenville Township soon after its 

organization. "Alek " sat around the hotel 

and heard the stories told by lumbermen abou t 

the quantities of game that could be found in 

the woods. His ambition to become a hunter 

^rew day by day until he determined to take a hunt. 




^^m^ — ^^:A4^D a % Dni>^^ 



■-4^^C^. 





I 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-*4^^f® 



I=Z 



His first venture proved satisfactory, he killing three 
large bears. He dressed them all nicely, and bear 
steaks were disposed of quite largely at supper. In 
fact, Alek ate bear meat so freely that it made him 
quite sick during the night. Feeling very uncomfort- 
able, he arose and tried to dress. By mistake he got 
hold of a pairof his little boy's pantaloons and thrust 
his foot as far through the leg as he was able. Failing 
in the endeavor to get them on, he became alarmed 
and danced over the floor, knocking the chairs right 
and left. He was suffering such pain that he became 
almost frantic, and vociferated loudly, " Get up, Jane, 
for God's sake, and make a light; I am swelled so big 
I can't get «iy panes on." The joke was too good to 
keep, and Alek is yet laughed at frequently about his 
first experience in eating bear steaks. 

A Canuck "'Hoodooed." 

^Ull! CARPENTER came down in the woods to 
do "tinkering" for EUsmore at the camp 
^f on "Sixteen." He was a "Canuck," fresh 
from his native sod, and the boys soon learned 
that he was as " verdant " as he was cowardly. 
They told him " bear stories " when sitting 
around the camp fire at night, and also spoke of the 





"gallipoo," a very large bird which infested the north 
woods, and had an especial fondness for "Canucks," 
three of them having been found in the craw of one 
that was killed the previous winter. He was in- 
formed that could he succeed in escaping its clutches 
for one year and become " acclimated," he would be 
in no danger, as it was never known to attack a man 
born here or who had lived a year in the State. 

A deep snow came on soon after, and the tinker 
went into the woods to find some " Dray Crooks." 
Marvel Secord, an old hunter who for many years had 
hunted and trapped in that vicinity, always wore very 
large snow-shoes when atteading his trap in winter, 
and the Canuck came upon the old man's trail while 
wandering through the woods. The size and sh.ipe 
of the tracks verified the stories told by llie lumber- 
man of the dreadful " gallipoo," and he became 
terribly frightened. Following the trail until it passed 
into the logging road that was well beaten down, he 
lost sight of it and made his way hurriedly to camp 
and told the men that he had found the place where 
the " gallipoo " had roosted and had followed its trail 
to the log road where he had become frightened and 
flown away. He left the camp at once, declaring his 
intention of going back to Canada, where such birds 
were unknown. 







(■ 



I 



I 




^^^Dll^tltlf^ 





MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-it^^^^ii 



417 



^ 





- OOP . 



,, HE greatest industry of Mid- 
|y_ land County from its organiz- 
ation has been the lumber 
trade, and it yet shows little 
diminution. The finest pine 
lands in Michigan were in 
Saginaw, Bay and Midland 
Counties ; and when we estimate 
the annual cut of pine alone, 
which has beern harvested from 
Midland for the past quarter of 
a century, it seems almost incred- 
ible. The most meager estimate of 
logs which are put into the Tittaba- 
wassee in this county alone, gives 
the annual total of 48,700,000 feet, 
while the Flint & Pere Marquette 
i Railroad frequently transports 4,000 
cars of logs per month, which aver- 
ages for that time 13,928,900 feet. 
Multiply this by 12, and we have 
the grand total of 167,147,520 feet 
carried annually by the railroad in 
rough logs. Add to this the logs 
floated down the Tittabawassee, and we have in tlie 
(q^ rough 215,847,520 feet, while the different mills in 
I the county manufacture and ship on an average the 
5^% amount accredited to each. 

fLarkin & Patrick do the second largest business, 
llieir mill being located at Midland. Their cut 
(^ amounts annually to 6,000,000 feet of lumber, 25,- 
V^ 000,000 shingles, 1,283,425 staves and 102,694 head- 



ings. In addition to this they manufacture annually 
84,463 barrels. 

Geo. Miller, of Coleman, manufactures 700,000 
feet of lumber, and 4,000,000 shingles; J. & F. L. 
Post, 1, 100,000 feet of lumber and 2,000,000 shin- 
gles; F. B. Simons, 7,000,000 shingles; John Ma- 
loney, 19,600,000 shingles; C. W. Stearns, 300,000 
feet of lumber; J. Thorington, 500,000 feet of lum- 
ber and 2,250,000 shingles, and C. M. Waldo, 
2,500,000 shingles. Geo. Cooper, of Coleman, also 
cuts 40,000 shingles and 100,000 staves. 

A. W. Wright and P. H. Ketcham do the largest 
lumbering business in the county, and have eight 
camps. The amount of pine logs they are getting 
out is not enumerated, but they employ at least 500 
men. They got out in 1883, in addition to their 
pine lumber, 400,000 feet of hard wood, and had on 
hand 300,000 feet of the same kind, with 100,000 
feet of oak logs in their yard. The amount of pine 
logs handled annually by this firm is 40,000,000 feet. 
They own 14 miles of logging railroad in this county, 
which is fully equipped with locomotives, cars, etc. 
This road transports all their own logs, except hard- 
wood, to the Tittabawassee, where they are dumped 
into the river. In addition to their own work, this 
firm has handled 25,000,000 feet of logs annually 
for other parties during the past two years. At their 
headquarters in Lincoln Township they have a gen- 
eral stock of merchandise, where their men and 
many families in the neighborhood come to trade. A 
postoffice is also established there, making it c]uite 
convenient for everybody living near. 



9 



^. 



^ 



( 



;^ 




A 



<mmm>^ 



A. 



-^s# 



^^f®>i0 






(k 




<^^i]n^iiD^>T- 



rsii^sr 



-«8^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






The adept in figures can 'add this yearly estimate, 
then multiply by 25, or the number of years in which 
lumbering has been pushed on an extensive scale, 
vvlien the wealth of the pine \\\ Midland County can 
be estimated. Very few tracts of really excellent 
pine lands can now be found, but her soil is rich and 
productive, and agriculture will be promoted by the 
destruction of lier forests. In 1880, 580,000,000 feet 
of logs was rafted on the Tittabawassee, and the 
jam of logs this year extends a distance of 40 miles 
above, with an estimate of 5,000,000 feet to the 
mile. 

The Pine and Chippewa Rivers converge at Mid- 
land, each carrying a wealth of logs on its bosom 
nearly equaling that of the Tittabawassee. When 
we tliink of the number of years that this wholesale 
destruction of valuable timber has been going on, 
and see the millions of feet yet standing, it seems 
scarcely possible that the whole State, much less a 
few counties, could produce it. Yet the facts, as 
demonstrated by carefully compiled statistics, show- 
that fully one-half of our timber is yet merchantable. 



t 



:^ 




(^ 



Life in a Lumber Camp. 

ji EAL life in a lumber camp is so unique that 
a brief account of a visit to such a place 
may not be out of place. Every one who 
'*V?. can do so should visit a camp, and see how 
the work of cutting and putting in logs is 
conducted. That is one thing that should be 
seen before wandering in foreign lands to feast one's 
eyes on strange and wondrous things, for nowhere 
abroad will he find wliat we have near home. The 
camp visited we found under tlie immediate super- 
vision and management of two gentlemen who had 
the contract for cut'ing and putting into the river 
the limber from 240 acres of land. The camp was 
in the midst of the forest, and consisted of six build- 
ings, situated conveniently near together, and of 
sufficient capacity to accommodate 70 men, 20 pairs 
of horses and 7 pairs of oxen. 

The first is the "cook shanty," 20 by 52 feet in size 
and one story high, which serves for a kitchen and 
dining-room for the entire crew. Tlie work of this 
department is performed by four girls and a chore- 



boy, the latter bringing wood and water and making 
himself useful in a thousand ways. Two long tables, 
covered with enameled cloth, enable 42 men to take 
their meals at once. Two large cooking-stoves are 
kept constantly in use, and when told the amount of 
provisions consumed per day or week, the query 
naturally arises how so few hands can prepare such a 
quantity of food with only two stoves. Work in the 
woods creates an appetite like a furnace, and provis- 
ions disappear before a crew of seventy men like dry 
leaves in a whirlwind. The bill of fare consists of 
potatoes, beans, pork, bread and molasses, and other 
substantial food, one meal seldom varying materially 
from another, with strong tea three times a day. A 
full force of men consume each week about five bar- 
rels of flour, five barrels of pork, from fifteen to 
twenty bushels of potatoes, and other things in like 
proportion. In one end of tliis building a room is 
partitioned off which serves one of the contractors as 
a private residence and the sleeping apartments of 
the female help. An alarm clock at least three-quar- 
ters of an hour ahead of the true time awakens the 
inmates of the shanty at four in the morning, and 
the day's labor cominences at once. The teamsters 
are first called, and while breakfast is being prepared 
they feed and harness their teams ; while they are 
at breakfast, the choppers and other workmen rise 
and fill the second table. The teamsters are off to 
their work long before daylight, and usually make 
one trip to the river, a distance of two miles, and 
back before darkness disappears. Five trips consti- 
tute the day's work, and when that is accomplished 
they unhitch and do no more till the next morning, 
although it may be several hours before sundown. 

The "men's shanty" is 26 X36 feet in size and one 
and a half stories higli. It is provided witli thirty- 
two bunks, eighteen on the first floor and fourteen in 
the chamber, each designed for two men, though 
three can sleep in them very comfortably. They are 
made of boards, ranged on either side of the room, 
in tiers one above another, and are provided with a 
straw tick and blankets. The building is warmed 
with a large box stove and lighted at nights with 
kerosene lamps. 

The barn proper is 30 X52 feet, with a stable on 
either side fourteen feet wide, making it 52x58 feet 
on the ground. It is made warm and comfortable, 
and furnishes stabling for 40 horses and 14 oxen. 



^ 



^ 



mvAm<^ 



-^m 



1^^ 



v|) 






c^: 






^ 



^ 



^1 




■:^^ 6V4iIl m n Di^ 



iM=^ 



^ 



,C1 






MIDLAND COUNTY. 



Near by is the granary, a small building, where the 
grain for the teams is kept. 

In another building a blacksmitli and a worker 
with edge tools, sometimes called a "wood-butcher," 
find employment, — the latter doing the wood-work 
on the logging sleds, putting in ax-handles, etc., 
while the former does the horse-shoeing, irons the 
sleds, repairs broken chains, etc. 

In a small building near the cook shanty, the 
other contractor resides, with family, and "keeps 
store," his stock consisting chiefly of tobacco, lum- 
bermen's clothing and such other commodities as tlie 
hands require. A large bell, susi)ended on a pole, 
the strokes of which can be heard for two or three 
miles, calls the men to their meals. 

A logging sleigh is an institution deserving more 
than a passing notice, for it never fails to at- 
tract the attention of the novice. In appearance it 
resembles a cross between a pile-driver and a toll- 
gate. It consists of a pair of "bobs" with runners 
three inches thick, and shod with iron three inches 







wide. The beams and other parts are correspond- 
ingly heavy; crossv/ise each sled is a beam of timber 
called a "bunk," seven feet in length, with a huge 
spike in either end to prevent the load from sliding 
off. They are built low and wide, the runners being 
from four to five feet apart, to prevent capsizing on 
uneven ground. On this vehicle an ordinary pair of 
horses move a load of from five to fifteen logs, scal- 
ing from 1,500 to 2,500 feet, board measure, and 
making a load in bulk nearly or quite as large as a 
load of hay. To haul such loads th? roads must be 
in good condition, and it is well-known that the 
logging roads are the best in Michigan. 

This description of one camp will give an idea of 
all camps, though of course no two are alike. This 
camp had turned into the river 4,500,000 feet in three 
months, and 1,000,000 feet more had been cut and 
rejected by the scaler, for soma defect. The labor 
on this 1,000,000 feet was all lost. 

With this for a sample, some idea may be formed 
of Wright & Ketcham's camps in this county, where 
from 400 to 600 men are employed. 




^ 



^f<S) 






m> 




►}- 







INCE the first schools were or- 
ganized in Midland County, the 
system of education has under- 
gone a complete change. The 
vast difference between the old 
and new metliods is plainly ap- 
parent. In "ye olden times" the ])re- 
ceptor's word was supreme law in 
his little kingdom, and this law was 
enforced by a generous distribution 
of strokes from the well seasoned birch 
rod. To execute a pencil sketch upon 
a slate was deemed a misdemeanor, or 
one which merited at least twelve strokes 
from the same reformer, wielded by the 
sturdy arm of an incensed pedagogue. To ask assist- 




i^mm\^^ 



ance in the solution of a perplexing problem in math- 
ematics more than twice during school hours, con- 
signed the unfortunate pupil to a seat on the "dunce 
block," the most observed, but not the most envied, 
personage in the room. 

The old straight-backed benches and pine desks, 
smeared with butter and molasses, and defaced by 
the big boys' "jack-knives," have been superseded 
by the the modern single desk, where each student 
has all the comforts and conveniences he can desire. 

The text-books were, at that date, of a miscellane- 
ous character, nearly every family having preserved 
the remnants of books which their fathers and moth- 
ers had studied during their school days, and were 
now brought into use by their children to save 
expense, being deemed by the parents quite good 



Vto} 



/ 



0) 



i 





4ZO 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-ss^ 






enough for anybody. Every pupil possessed a 
*Bj Ray's Arithmetic, the only text-book of which there 
,^ were a half-dozen alike. Geography was represented 

by "Peter Parley" and Monteith's Manual; readers, 



'"Si by McGufTey, Saunders, Eclectic and National series; 
grammar, by Pinneo, Clark's Easy Method and Brown's 
Parsing Lessons. Webster's Elementary, Cobb's, 
Worcester's and the Eclectic Spellers were used in- 
discriminately. The scholars could hardly be classi- 
fied, much less graded. Now, the systematic man- 
ner of grading pupils, the uniformity of text-books, 
with improved methods of teaching by object lessons 
and otherwise, give pupils of this day advantages 
not dreamed of 20 years ago. Students i2yearsof age 
are in many instances further advanced in rhetoric, 
physiology and mathematics then were the less for- 
tunate pupils who attended public schools during the 
entire time perscribed by law not two decades since. 

) 

> 



The Facts in This County. 



^^=S^. 




[IDLAND County is rapidly advancing in 
an educational way. The Township of 

'^^^■'^ Midland leads with the number of pupils 
^.Vy^Vx and value of school property. There are 
'^ two brick, four frame and one log school-house, 

j with a total valuation of $28,500. The num- 
ber of scholars enrolled in the several districts is S63. 
The amount paid for tuition last year was ^,642.20. 
The largest school building in the county is at Mid- 
land City; this is a magnificent brick structure, three 
stories in height, exclusive of the basement, which is 
large and airy. The building is heated by furnaces, 
and especial regard has been paid to ventilation and 
obtaining proper light in its construction. It was 
erected in 1869, and cost, with its furniture §23,000. 
Si.x teachers are employed, in as many, departments. 
A handsome and valuable library, containing 70S 
volumes, belongs to this building, thus adding largely 
to the interest of school work. 

In Hope Township there are two whole districts and 
two fractional ones. The number of children in the 
township between the ages of five and twenty years 
is 209. There are two frame school-houses and two 
log, and the total amount of money paid out for 
wages of teachers for the year 18S3 was $938.25. 



Edenville contains two whole districts and one 
fractional. The number of children enrolled is 140. 
One of these three districts is furnished with a frame 
and the other two with log school-iiouses. The 
amount of wages paid to teachers was $718.75. 

Warren has three districts, two of which are whole 
and one fractional. The number of children enrolled 
in the township is 154. Two of the school buildings 
are frame structures, with modern conveniences, and 
the remaining one is of logs. The total amount of 
money paid to teachers is $610. 

Larkin Township paid a total of §940.50 to its 
teachers for the year 1883 ; in this township we find 
five districts, all entire. The number of children en- 
rolled is 94. Tiiree of the school-houses are frame 
buildings, while two districts still use the log school- 
house. 

There are but two organized school districts in 
Lincoln, both of which are entire. There are only 63 
children in the township who are entitled to school 
privileges, and of these, only 48 attend. One of their 
school-houses is a frame and the other a log building. 
Three hundred and forty-five dollars was disbursed 
during the past year for the payment of teachers' sal- 
aries. 

In Jerome Township there are but 91 children wlio 
are privileged to attend school, and only 45 of these 
take advantage of the privilege. One of the buildings 
is a frame and the other a log scliool-Iiouse, there 
being but two districts in the township. The total 
amount of wages paid to teachers during the year 
was S303. 

In Geneva 62 children attend school regularly out 
of 104 who are entitled by law to these benefits. 
There are but two districts, both of which are provided 
with substantial and commodious frame buildings. 
The total amount paid teachers, male and female, for 
the past year was S369. 

Homer has three whole districts, all of which are 
supplied with good frame buildings. Five hundred 
and seventy-two dollars was paid out for teacher's 
salaries for the school year of 1883. There are en- 
rolled in this township 572 school children. 

Lee has paid out to its teachers of 1883 the sum 
of §467.45. It is divided into four districts, all of 
which are entire and all together enroll only 54 
scholars. Two frame and two log school-houses 
com[)rise the whole. 




V 

VS 






c>: 






I 



^^^^#»- 



-^>n!l^IIDf^A^ ^'^^ 







®))(^#- 



T 



<>IIIi:<^I]ll>> 



v 



"^S&'li^''-^^ 



f 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



421 



(ireendale has but one school district, it being an 
ungraded one. H. L. Voorhese is Director for the 
present year. Eighteen pui^ils are enrolled, 12 of 
whom attend reguarly. A handsome frame building 
was erected in 1884, costing about $500. The school 
property is valued at $500, and $120 was paid the 
teachers of 1883. 

IngersoU contains one fractional district and four 
whole ones. 'I'he number of pupils as shown by the 
last school census is 322. Each district is provided 
with an excellent frame school building, fitted up 
with all modern conveniences. IngersoU paid to her 
teachers last year the sum of $1,043.83. 

Mt. Haley registers 103 children between the ages 
of five and twenty years, and the three fractional 
school districts which she controls are provided with 
log houses for school purposes. The total wages of 
teachers for the last school year was $530.70. 



The four whole districts into which Porter Town- 
ship is divided are furnished with frame school build- 
ings, which are large and roomy and well ventilated. 
The amount of wages paid to teachers for 1883 was 
$651.78. The number of children enrolled was 136. 

Jasper Township has expended the sum of $833 in 
teachers' pay for the last school year. It contains 
five districts, all of which are whole. The total num- 
ber of children enabled by law to attend school in this 
township is 161. Out of the five buildings designed 
for school purposes only one is built of logs, the rest 
of frame. 

For a county containing less than 7,000 inhabitants 
the above statement is quite flattering. It is now being 
settled up with good citizens more rapidly than at 
any time in its history, and the next ten years will 
nearly double the figures given above. 







vy.^y^-^^^' ' y- ^- ' '^:^ ■ v- 3v\^'rv ^ v=v ^gs}i ^s-jL:i \ s a ■• 't- v- \^v v - an • v s-^^l^ 




"oSjo 



.^r{,^^^^^'n.E press of Midland County 
" '' has had a checkered career. 

Newspaper enterprises have 
done more to develop pub- 
lic interests than all other 
means combined. Through 
the papers come first the 
iCws of any and every locality; in 
it the moral, theological and politi- 
cal sentiments of all are given voice. 
Through the press of Midland 
County the untold resources of 
this beautiful county have been 
given to the public, and from far 
and near have hastened men of 
every clime and nation to enrich 
themselves and develop more thor- 
oughly the splendid body of agri- 
cultural lands contained within her boundaries. 



Midland Sentinel. 



^ 




\^ 



HIS paper was established in April, 1858, by 
Nathan T. Carr. When the proposition to 
organize this village was made, he changed 
the name to "Midland City Sentinel." In 
1862, Carpenter & Bailey purchased the same, 
under whose management it was continued 
until 1865, when George H. Gies purchased it and 
changed the name to " Midland Joi4rnal" He con- 
tinued it only a few weeks, when Geo. AV. Hughes 
purchased the outfit and the name was again changed, 
this time to The Indepe?ident. Mr. Carpenter still 
held a mortgage upon the press and material, but 
subsequently sold his claim to F. F. Hopkins. In 
1866, W. H. H. Bartram purchased Hughes' interest 
and associated with himself Mr. Hopkins as a part- 
ner. In 1868, Bartram disposed of his interest to 
Hopkins, who soon afterward disposed of a half in- 



? 






(5^' 









^ 
^ 



iVVS^^#* 



^ 



<^D!l"^nDf^ 





■■■>. 



v^ 

s 



V 



) 



^^^ 



422 



MinLAND 



COUNTY. 



"^^^^^^^T 



f?^jf 



teiest to James Porter and John Haines. They con- 
tinued the paper until 187 i, when M. W. Ellsworth 
purchased Porter's interest. Subsecpiently F. S. Bur- 
ton purchased a half interest from Haines, and later 
he, together with Ellsworth, purchased Haines' entire 
interest. In the fall of 1872 E. N. Burton bough 
Ellsworth's share, and the succeeding spring, F. S. 
Burton purchased his brother's interest and continued 
its management alone until disposed of, Jan. 1, iSSi, 
to T. W. Crissey, who changed the name of the paper 
to the "Midland Republican" 

The Republican is not only a fine paying invest- 
ment, but in direct line of succession is the oldest 
paper in the county. 




Midland Times. 




&00N after Mr. Bartram sold the Independent, 
^^!, he established another paper in the village, 
f*5*"W^ ^jjicii was christened "The Midland Cily 



Times" This had an ephemeral existence, 
living only a few weeks. Upon the ruins of 
this venture in journalism he commenced the 
publication of another journal, which was appropri- 
ately named " Bartranis Cheek (.')," which flourished 
for a few months and was removed to Saginaw, where 
it was soon engulfed in obscurity. 

Bartram was full of energy, and would not down ; 
and, coming back to Midland, secured the financial 
aid of a few leading citizens, who purchased a fine 
outfit — the best, in fact, that Midland had ever 
known — and a new paper was launched upon the 
journalistic sea, and was called " The Midland 
Times." This was in the spring of 1872, and the 
effort gave every appearance of success, backed as 
it was by the leading men of the village. Geo. W. 
Hughes was associated as editor, and soon as- 
suming that position purchased the interest Bartram 
had in the concern and continued the pajjer under 
his own management until the office was sold under 
a chattel mortgage three years later. 




Midland Sun. 




THE next venture in journalism was tlie 
j establishing of the " Midland Courier" by 
^^ George McConnell, in 1878 



He sold this 

■M paper to Snialley and the Stair Bros., who ve- 
T named it " 7//t' Review" and made it purely 
I Democratic in tone. Edward Cornelius ptir- 
chased the Review in 1880, and the name of course 
was changed, this lime to " The Midland Democrat!' 
The Democracy of this county not being strong 
enough, or else unwilling, to support their party 
organ, allowed it to starve for want of sustenance, 
and it faded away like frost before the morning sun. 
F. S. Burton, thinking this a good opportunity for 
investment, purchased the material, and, adding 
$2,000 wortli of new material, launched the " Mid- 
land Sun." This paper is the Greenback organ of 
this county, and with it Mr. Burton has done effective 
work for his party. The Sun was at the beginning 
purely Republican, but time with its changes has 
wrought a complete conversion of its editor and 
manager, Mr. Barton. .\ splendid job office is a 
part of the Sun's outfit, and the patronage of the 
same is excellent. 

— '^i- 



•^i^^S'^"'^^''^'^^^ 



c 



( 



c< 



Coleman Advocate. 

HIS paper, edited by H. F. Linton, is a 
spicy, interesting acquisition to the press 
#1^^ of Midland County. The Advocate is do- 
& ing more to build up the interests of Coleman 
T and the western part of the county than any 
and all means heretofore used by individuals. 
Mr. Linton is a live man and a working editor, as the 
columns of his paper attest. Fully alive to the in- 
terests of his patrons, he has left no means untried 
to give them a valuable journal, and well has he 
succeeded. 

The first issue of the Advocate bears date of Aug. 
1 1, 1883, and its columns contain a well written arti- 
cle upon the merits of Warren Township. We are 
pleased to record Tire Coleman Advocate as the most 
enterprising journal in the county. 






-K^^(ll]:^tinf>^ 




(b 




-^^^^^^ crv<^:l]U;^UUv>T- 



-T^^&s: 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 







#" fllOC©LLI\5B0Iia 






lV--Uvjfej^.t.«.*..t«tn.tA,.fe4 



Jl^"**^' 



-««e 



-^(gr 



'f?5— «- 



»>» 




■nraxp^^' 






1 
f 




^«SHJH»<^ 



S a concluding chapter to this 
work, we class under the 
above head several interest- 
ing articles which, although 
brief, are none the less impor- 
tant. Such are the material 
resources and developments of the 
county, in respect to agriculture, 
railroads, finances, wild game, and 
also the county buildings, poor 
farm, the part taken by Midland 
County in the war, the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union, etc. 
The accounts here given are sub- 
stantially correct, and from them the 
reader may glean much information 
that will be of service. The principal material in- 
terest, however, — that of lumber, — has been already 
treated in a distinct department. 



Agricultural Society. 

'HIS society was formally organized Feb. 22, 
1877. Several enterprising gentlemen met 
^ together and after a short deliberation 
formed themselves into a society by electing 
"I" James S. Eastman President, Thomas McCul- 
I loch, Vice President, Dwyer W. Hitchcock, 
Secretary, and E. W. Davis, Treasurer. After pro- 
viding for the several committees and officers neces- 





sary to conduct its affairs, it was determined, at a 
meeting held later, to have an agricultural fair in the 
autumn of that year. Grounds had been previously 
selected and negotiations entered into between the 
proper committee acting for the society and D. H. 
Fitzhugh, for the purchase of the land which is now 
the property of the society. Some buildings were 
erected, not very ample, it is true, but all the avail- 
able space was taken ; and the fair, which was held 
Sept. 26 and 27, proved a splendid success. The 
grounds have since been cleared up, plenty of nice 
stalls and pens for stock hive been built, and every- 
thing connected with it put in good shape. The 
grounds have been paid for with the income from 
subsequent meetings. 

The floral hall was built by a number of ladies 
who were banded together as a secret society and 
for quite a while kept the real name of their society 
from the public. They gave a literary entertainment 
finally, with the understanding that the great secret 
should be revealed at the close of the entertainment, 
the proceeds of which should be used m erecting a 
floral hall on the grounds of the Agricultural Society. 
The plan met with favor, and a handsome amount 
was realized, enough, in fact, to complete the build- 
ing. The name, or initials by which the ladies were 
known, were the K. T. I's, which, when interpreted 
to the astonished multitude who were assembled to 
hear the great secret unraveled, were the initial let- 
ters of " Key to Industry," a motto selected as the 
distinguishing cognomen of their society. 

The floral and agricultural halls were both erected 
in 1883, the first agricultural hall having blown 






0- 



(o) 




^^^ — '^:M^n%m<>^^ — ^^^ 



-1^^^- 





@)$^^ti««^ 



424 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



'im. 






t 



^ down. To erect a new one and make further im- 
^ provements upon the grounds, a loan of $1,200 was 
^ effected. The track is a full half mile in length and 
T is in e.xcellent condition, the Horse Association of 
(^j Midland keeping it in repair for the use of the 
grounds at their semi-annual meetings. 

The grounds, comprising 22 acres, are well watered, 
nicely shaded b}' pine and hard-wood trees, and are 
located on the bank of the Chippewa River, less 
than a mile from the corporation line of Midland. 
They were purchased and paid for by the society in 
1883. The price paid was $33 per acre, although 
the land to-day is worth at least $75. The location 
cannot be improved, and, under the able manage- 
ment of the present officers, the indebtedness will be 
largely reduced this year. 

The present officers are M. H. Stanford, President ; 
Thomas McCuUoch, Vice President ; Milton P. An- 
derson, Treasurer; and H. L. Fairchilds, Secretary. 



,0 

V 

i 
1=1 

I 



^SSH^'^ 



m 



Soil and Its Productions. 

|ijTfi™i>ANY of the most valuable and fertile 
t'l^ci— 4-^. farmincr lands are of those classed as 

fife; "stump," or "stripped lands." .Some of 
^ these are creek flats and ancient beaver 
meadows, having alluvial soil for the most part, 
and surpassingly rich in all the elements requi- 
site to constitute farming soils. Then there are 
ridges — genuine pine ridges — where the soil is sandy 
and the subsoil a deep-red clay, which the plowshare 
reaches in nearly every furrow. In this, corn, clover, 
all varieties of roots and vegetables and some of the 
smaller cereals can be successfully grown, the yield 
in many cases being prodigious. 

The black ash and tamarack swamps possess the 
most fertile and deepest soil, and when drained make 
the very best grass lands, as well as for various other 
crops. These lands are susceptible of being drained 
at a very cheap rate, and only a few acres of lands 
in ISIidland County can properly be classed as waste 
lands. Taking it all in all, only a few counties in the 
State can surpass this in the advantages furnished 
the industrious and intelligent husbandman. 

Located as Midland County is, between two great 
lakes, her climate is so modified that the warm sea- 




son averages nearly as long as the inland counties in 
the Southern part of the State, and they possess no 
climatic advantages over her. Probably drouths are 
not so fretjuent nor so destructive here as with 
tliem. Given a fair test upon almost any crop, thor- 
ough diainage, culture equally thorough, and the soil 
of Midland County will produce crops not excelled 
by any county in the State. 

Some may doubt this statement and turn to the 
statisticians' tables and quote "that figures will not 
lie." Those tables are not reliable in speaking of 
Midland County. Most of these lands are yet cov- 
ered with stumps, and the grounds are "run over" 
more than tilled, while more attention has been given 
to getting off logs than in draining or manuring the 
land. The farmers are in many instances a cross 
between the farmer, lumberman and hunter, and the 
occupants do not engage in agriculture upon a scien- 
tific basis. Those who do, and most of the town- 
ships are now well represented by this class, are 
rapidly becoming wealthy. Lands may be pur- 
chased for a small sum that are well watered, fairly 
timbered, and accessible to schools, churches and 
towns ; but another decade will find them doubled in 
valuation. 



Wealth of Midland County. 

!f*Bfiix N estimating the growth of Midland County 
t from its organization until the present time. 



s 



I 



it is only necessary to give the valuation 
of both real and personal estate in the several 
townships as shown by the October report of 
the Board of Supervisors in 18S3: 



TowMsliiiis. Ai'i-es. 

Edenville 22,677 

Geneva 22,945 

Greendale.. ..22,209 

Homer 14,063 

Hope 37-632 

Ingersoll 23,210 

Jasper 22,776 

Jerome •9>285 

Larkin 29,296 

Lee 21,1 13 

Lincoln r3 290 

Midland 21,455 

Mt. Haley 14,678 

Porter 22,900 

Warren 21,340 



Keal Estate. 
$140,635 

53.110 
63.95° 
60,955 

185,023 

201,820 

104,815 

41,620 

54,35° 
67,080 
44,690 
265,677 
44,360 

127,585 
123,100 



^M-^ 




Personal. 

$ 5.33° 

4.785 

3.56° 

958 

23,502 

5.6°5 
2,678 

3.370 

1,680 

1,100 

26,030 

94,785 

610 

I.99S 
7.630 



VS> 



Cm 



( 






^ 




@)f^#^ 



r-r\ 



<^PI1^I1I1^> 



f 



'^^ 









V 

I') 



:^ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-:2j€^ 



—I^^C^'-C^' 



;o^i 



425 



The first assessment of Midland County was made 
when Gratiot, Isabella, Clare, Roscommon and a part 
of Bay Counties were attached, the entire tract then 
not furnishing as many dollars in both real and per- 
sonal estate as Midland Township does to-day. 
When taken into consideration that assessment rolls 
show at least 40 per cent, less than the lowest cash 
vahiation, the wealth of Midland County may easily 
be estimated. 



Game. 

AME has always been very plentiful in this 
county. Even now, with all its improve- 
ments and large settlements, scores of bears 
and deer are killed every year. Alvin Marsh, 
a resident of Edenville Township, has averaged 
30 bears each year since coming to Midland 
County, besides large numbers of deer and smaller 
game. In 1883 he killed 38 bears, all within ten 
miles of Edenville. Only two years ago a large buck 
came running up Main Street in Midland City, having 
crossed the river opposite Joseph Townsend's house. 
It jumped over the fence surrounding John Larkin's 
door-yard and made its way through the chicken-yard, 
coming into the street again near Reardon's store. 
It was pursued by an excited crowd of men and boys, 
armed only with sticks and brickbats, to all of which 
it paid no attention. Lewis Eastman chased it close- 
ly for several blocks with his team, but having no 
weapon it finally escaped into the woods. 




HC3= 



r^T" 



"r~Y" 



=E>- 



Bailroads. 



.^ 





^HE subject of transportation has been and 
is now one of the vital questions in the 
r^ growth and development of a country, be 
it new or old. Midland County was for several 
years shut off from civilization except by means 
of the river, there being no wagon roads lead- 
ing out of the county. Even the despised " corduroy ' 
was unknown until the county had been settled for 
many years. 



V§) 



THE FLINT &.PERE MARQUETTE RAILROAD 

Was the first and only line to date that has been com- 
pleted in the county. This was secured by liberal 
inducements offered by the citizens of Midland and 
a few individuals along the line. John Larkin gave 
the right of way through the village. J. W. Coch- 
rane was also quite active in this enterprise, which 
has been of so great benefit to Midland County. 
This railroad was completed to Midland City and 
opened for business Dec. 1,1867. Six months later 
it was extended to Averill, which place was its west- 
ern terminus nearly two years. The line was then 
pushed rapidly to Clare, and thence to Reed City, its 
present western tern.ination. A branch road, under 
the control of the Flint & Pere Marquette, extends 
southerly from Coleman to Mt. Pleasant, in Isabella 
County. Added to this is a line extending several 
miles into the woods north of Coleman, which carries 
logs to the Flint & Pere Marquette. 

With the railroad, came prosperity to this county, 
and the men who so energetically managed the mat- 
ter will never receive half the credit they deserve. 

THE BAY CITY & MIDLAND RAILROAD 

Was comtemplatedin 1870, and prospects for an east 
and west road were never better between two villages. 
A company was organized in the spring of that year, 
consisting of such well known men as John Larkin, /• }^ 
J. W. Anderson, Geo. A. Janes, Thomas J. Carpenter, 
Benj. Dean and Wm. Patrick, of Midland, George 
Campbell, the Manger Brothers, W. H. Miller, James 
Shearer, Wm. Westover, J. R. Hall, Pitts & Cran- 
age and Judge Holmes, of Bay City, as stockholders. 

The assessment of ten per cent, was paid up. 
Capt. E. R. Craw was elected President, John Haines, 
Secretary and Geo. Campbell, Treasurer. Work was 
pushed during the year, and the road was graded and 
culverts built along the entire line. As the work 
progressed, further assessments were made, but, owing 
to the mismanagement of the secretary and treasur- 
er, the company ran out of funds and operations were 
suspended indefinitely. 

In the spring of 1882, Bay City parties made this 
proposition to the stockholders: That Midland raise 
$10,000, and some one be authorized to act as attor- 
ney for the original stockholders ; that the right of 
way be thus secured and Bay City would raise the 
balance necessary to complete the line. This was 
done by the people ot Midland, and Wm. Mann, of 



C'; 









'!;' 



i^, 



^ 



§^^^ 



J-i. 



^^m^Mr^ 



.^v:- 



^^^^ 




'mu^^^^ 



j:^ 



T 



<m:m^ 



426 



t 



) 






>: 



(a 



(c\ 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 






Bay City, given authority to act for the stockholders. 
This venture was also a failure, Bay City failing to 
raise the amount necessary to complete the contract. 
The right of way is still secure, but no efforts are 
made toward finishing the road. There is little doubt 
but it will be taken hold of by seme company ere 
long and carried to completion. 



The County Buildings. 

iCHE court-house is a plain two-story frame 
jj^^^?- structure, built in the ancient style of arch- 
^^iL^i* *^ itecture, and is hardly good enough for a 
county possessing the wealth of Midland. It 
was erected in 1857, and was at that time con- 
sidered an elegant building. It cost $6,000, 
and was built by Timothy Jerome. All the county offi- 
cials have their offices in the court-house except the 
Sheriff. 

The county jail is a substantial brick building, to 
which is attached the Sheriff's residence. It was the 
first brick structure erected in Midland County, and 
was built by John Larkin. It was completed and 
accepted June r, 1865. The jail is well ventilated, 
and constructed with such material and in such a 
manner that it is ne.xt to impossible for a criminal to 
escape. 

COUNTY POOR KARM. 

Among the many things needful in every county 
is a poor farm, where those who have become old 
and helpless, as well as unfortunate in ac(iuiring an 
adequate store of this world's riches, may find a 
home, and be well taken care of Midland County 
was organized in the year 1855, and in 1865 the 
Board of Supervisors bought of Sam'l P. Chapman, 
for the protection of her poor and unfortunate, a farm 
and building, at a cost of $2,500. 

This farm has a very pleasant location in Midland 
Township, on the bank of the Tittabawassee River. 
Since its purchase by the county, the house has been 
enlarged, and at present consists of a north wing and 
main building, each containing nine rooms, besides 
kitchen, dining and sitting rooms, a workshop, cellar 
and closets. There are two large barns, in good re- 
pair, and these are well filled, the one with grain and 



the other with horses, cows and pigs. The inmates 
are neat and cleanly, the river on the boundary of 
the farm being utilized for bathing in summer, while 
ordinary tubs are used in winter. The rooms are 
heated by stoves, and wood is used for fuel. The 
paupers are treated with consideration and kindness, 
and all who are able to work render material aid in 
helping about the farm and buildings. They are plenti- 
fully sujiplied with common farm food, such as meat, 
vegetables, bread, butter, syrup, milk, etc. They are 
provided with good, stout woolen goods for winter, 
and cotton for sunmier. A county physician is em- 
ployed for the treatment of the sick, besides their 
having the personal care of the overseer and matron. 
For the insane and idiotic there are six properly fur- 
nished cells, and inducements are held out to get 
them to perform light labor. The children are sent 
to a dristrict school a'oout 90 rods distant. 

The house is surrounded by a farm of 130 acres of 
good land, 80 acres of which is under cultivation. A 
number of fruit-trees have just been set out, and in 
due time will produce a good supply of fruit. 

The present overseer is Wm. Babcock, who, with 
his competent and amiable wife, manages the farm 
in the most successful manner; and their care of, and 
kindness to, those placed in their charge cannot be 
too highly commended. 

The average yearly amount expended by the coun- 
ty for the support of the poor is $3,125. The farm, 
with buildings, live stock, farm implements and all 
other property is estimated to be worth $9,500. 
\ At present there are 15 inmates, — seven females 
and eight males. 









sy 



c^ 



, .^jc:j^ 



-■•St' 



Midland County Patriotism. 



'^' 



HE Michigan soldiers were counted among 
;ll " the best and bravest troops in the field dur- 
'' ing the War of the Rebellion, and Midland 
County, which had been but a few years organ- 
ized, was not lacking when it came to the test- 
'I'* When the first enrollment of those subject to 
military duty was made in Midland County, 152 men 
were reported. Of these 129 enlisted, and three 
were drafted during the continuance of tire war, thus 
leaving o'nly 21 able-bodied men in the county ! The 







e^Dfl^DDf^ 



r^- 





1))^^ 






) 






>: 



^ 

s 

b 



■^VKIIIlSDDS>-r*- 

MIDLAND COUNTY. 



^^^ 




gallant and loyal sons of Michigan responded nobly 
to the call for troops, but in no locality more promptly 
than in Midland County. Leaving their wives and 
little ones behind, the husbands and fathers hurried 
to the front, anxious to be the first to aid in the pro- 
tection of their country's honor and the preservation 
of the Union. Ladies, who by reason of birth and 
education were more fitted for the drawing room than 
a life of toil, bravely took charge of the farm, and 
while the reality of life was thus forced upon them 
they uncomplainingly put their hands to the plow, and 
in some instances wielded the ax, to attain a living 
for themselves and children. 

The Supervisors of this county appropriated $6,550 
for the relief of soldiers families. " IThis allowance 
was to be made at their discretion, but not to exceed 
$15 per month ; and in the case of the death of a sol- 
dier, it was to continue one year thereafter. This 
relief was unquestionably administered with that 
generous liberality which the laiv contemplated. Yet 
the law was neitlier easy nor desirable, as it required 
much labor, good judgment, discrimination and deli- 
cacy, at the same lime giving opportunity for much 
censure. While imposition on the counties hadtobe 
guarded against, respect for the claims of applicants 
were 'demanded, and in its distribution there was a 
degree of delicacy requisite in barring the least idea 
of a charily and in establishing one of a right. The 
people, however, have very sensibly given the author- 
ities due allowance for the'delicacy of the situation. 

Rejoicing at the end of the war was fully as great 
in Midland County as elsewhere. The soldiers re- 
turned to their homes, and laborers, who before had 
been so scarce, were plentiful. Business of every 
character was increased ; new business houses were 
built; saw-mills and other manufacturing establish- 
ments erected, and the county assumed a phase of 
activity never",before experienced. Ministers who 
had worn the blue now donned their ministerial 
robes, and glad tidings of peace on earth and good 
will toward men were heard from every pulpit in the 
county. The brave men who survived this struggle 
have as true sentiments of patriotism within their 
breasts to-day as when tliey left mother, father, wife 
and family for tlie desperate front. And as patriot- 
ism seeks to be effective to the interests of a State, 
to vindicate its rights, redress it wrongs, and secure 
ts prosperity, these can never be better left than 




with those men who braved death for the preserva- 
tion of tlie Union, — 

Men who tlieir iliitii's know. 

Ami also know their rij^hts. 

Anil, knowino-. ilai-e maintain them. 

DWIGHT MAY POST, NO. 69, 

Was mustered June 28, r882, with the following gen- 
tlemen as officers : D. W. Hitchcock, Commander ; 
True Hart, Sen. Vice Commander; Wra. Simmons, 
Jr. Vice Commander; J. W. Snell, Adjt.; Wm. David- 
son, Q. M.; D. A. Huyck, Chaplain; E. W. Davis, 
Surgeon; T. B. Main, Officer of the Day; R. J. 
Waldon, Officer of the Guard; C. L. Jenney, Gr. M. 
Sergt.; H. F. Olmstead, Sergt. Maj. 

The charter members, including the officers men- 
tioned, were : J. B. Atchinson, S. Burch, F. E. But- 
ters, A. L. Bellinger, Chas. E. Call, M. Dunning, 
Thos. G. Fraser, O. D. Gotham, J. M. Hall, S. Kent, 
N. Norton, J. C. Pressley, G. G. Richardson, A. J. 
Raymoiid, B. Stockwell, M. H. Stanford, L. A. Tryan, 
C. H. Thorns, James Van Kleeck and E. Walters. 
All these gentlemen were Michigan soldiers, and the 
number of members have increased to upwards of 80 
veterans. Their arms and accouterments were pur- 
chased by the Post, and the Adjutant, J. W. Snell, 
reports the sanitary and financial condition in good 
order. The worth of the present officers is shown 
by the unanimous re-election of all to their several 
positions, no change having occurred since the or- 
ganization. 



-€i^^ 



I 



0) 



Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 

4 

jHIS society was organized July 26, r882,by 
Mrs. Judyvine, of Flint. An election of 
officers is held semi-annually, in January 
\^ and July. The result of the first election was 
as follows: Mrs. P. S. Davies, President; Mrs. 
T. J. Carpenter, rst Vice President; Mrs. Rev. 
Ellis, 2d Vice President; Mrs. Rev. H. W. Hicks, 
3d Vice President; Mrs. Ellery Anderson, Rec. Sec; 
Mrs. Abner Horton, Cor. Sec; Mrs. Wm. Berryman, 
Treas. 

At the time of its organization the members of the 
the society numbered 20, and since then many names 
have been added to the list. 




®^^ 



^ 



-2-c^n!i^naft>^ 



A. 



.CS);^^ 




:^:^/^l>)(^t#^^ 



42S 



MIDLAND COUNTY. 



-^i^^^^^\Sm 



In January, 1884, Mrs. P. S. Davies was elected 
President; Mrs. T. W. Crissey, Mrs. H. B. Harring- 
ton and Mrs. Cordelia Elmer, Vice Presidents; Mrs. 
M. McKizie, Recording Secretary; Mrs. E. Ander- 
son, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. C. L. Jenney, 
Treasurer. These ladies devote themselves and 
their influence to the noble work of suppressing in- 
temperance in the village of Midland. They are 
working quietly and slowly, but are surely gaining 
ground; and they intend to insist upon having their 
voices heard and their requests fully considered, and 
through their active work they hoi>e to free their vil- 
lage of this dreadful vice. 



Y 



1 



m 





A Terrible Necessity. 



HE most fearful transaction in the history 
of Midland County was enacted on the 
morning of Sunday, Nov. 9, 1879, in the 
township of Homer. The place adjoining thai 
tJ of M. B. Marsh was owned by a morose, 
I fractious Frenchman named Mazak. He had 
been a disagreeable neighbor, and at times resisted 
the common administration of the municipal regula- 
tions of the township, making it necessary some- 
times to enforce the law in collecting taxes, etc. It 
was known that his severity in his family approached 
brutality, but beyond discontented growling at being 
compelled to satisfy the legal demands upon him, 
he did not seem dangerous to the community. 

But a few days before the date named he had 
seemed to be ill, and his movements were so peculiar 
that his wife called a physician. On Saturday he 
sat all day in the middle of the floor without speak- 
ing or eating. Toward niglit he came out of his sin- 
gular condition, roused up, and spent the evening 
pleasantly with his family, finally retiring to appar- 
ently peaceful slumber. Just at the approach of 
dawn the family of Mr. Marsh were aroused by the 
cries of the children of Mazak, that their mother 
wanted Mr. Marsh to come to her assistance. He 
dressed hastily all but his coat, and on leaving the 
house met Mrs. Mazak, who told him her husband 
was killing her mother. Mr. Marsh passed out into 



the road and had gone but a short distance when 
Mazak sprang upon him from the corner of the 
fence. The Frenchman had no clothing on except a 
heavy woolen shirt and his stockings, and he had in 
his hands a bludgeon of hard wood. He seized Mr. 
Marsh and threw him. A large new clasp knife 
flew from the pocket of the latter, which Mazak 
seized, opened and commenced to slash the fallen 
man. In Mr. Marsh's attempts to ward off the 
knife, his left hand was severely injured by a cut 
across the back, which laid bare the bones and ten- 
dons. The desperation of his situation nerved him 
to make a tremendous effort to throw off his antago- 
nist, which he did, and he then jumped over the 
fence and ran. The Frenchman followed him and 
encountered his mother-in-law, who had followed 
him, and again attacked her with the' knife, inflicting 
severe wounds. 

Mr. Marsh went to her assistance and obtained 
possession of the knife, which he threw towards the 
road. The Frenchman darted to the wood-pile and 
returned with an ax. Mr. Marsh immediately closed 
with him and took the ax from him. The infuriated 
maniac fought like a wild beast compelling Mr. 
Marsh to defend his life, which he did, but at the 
dreadful extremity of putting an end to the existence 
of the lunatic, which charity must suppose him to 
have been. No help came until all was over, and 
when the neighbors arrived Mrs. Marsh was endeav- 
oring to bind the wounds and relieve the sufferings 
of her husband and the woman, who had several se- 
vere wounds besides the bruises from the blows she 
had received at the beginning of the terrible affair. 
Mr. Marsh had nine wounds and kept his bed seven 
weeks in consequence of his injuries. He had, and 
continues to receive, the sympathy of the entire 
community. 

An item of interest to the speculative in consider- 
ing the above incident, is the fact that Thursday 
night previous, Mrs. Marsh dreamed that Mazak lay 
frying in a coffin which floated in a lake that filled 
tlie door-yard to her house. The curious part is that 
on Friday Mrs. Mazak repeated her dream of the 
previous night to Mrs. Marsh, the details being nearly 
identical. This fact was known to several persons 
before the catastrophe. It is, doubtless, one of those 
numerous examples of coincidence with which the 
public is firmiliar. 






V^ 






c< 






'^^^y®^^^ 



.j^ 



<-^D!l^DIlf> 







■ev<-:Dll^|]Il>^T- 



^y^^^^- 



iafssv 



-^ 



<k 



;^ 






_&i.^ - — 

^"■^^^^^f^- 

«« 




^^^►^ 



"tiV^' 



(^ 

1 



*^\' 

vy 



(^ 



s.'-'i^ 



I- 
V 



e^#^ 



.^^ 



b^oflgnnf^-T?^- 



A^. 



i 

I 



(^IY^')«'^^ 



^ 



-v<;M-r-:CD!>r^ a'%;g«£- 






I 






:<^^ 



.) 








v:. 



^ 

A 



V 



( 



^ 

^ 



<o\ 






■^-^^Dn^ni!;>^^ 



-^^^''^^ -#^f^>N^ 



feiU^ 






"tT-r^^l]H.%UU^:/v— 5 — :->'4> 



■■■^:^-^ 



^-A^^ 




BI0GrifIl:?r;I(3fIIx 



i 

f 






V 

) 



^ 



^ 



Alil>cy, <icori4C W 333 

Adum*, John 23 

AdaiiH, JohnQuincy 39 

A 1^4111 r«:, I'hilip «28 

Alien Win. W 13 

Arthur, Chculcr A ^9 

Anhby. Richard m8 

\; 

liabcock, L. F Ji6 

liagtey, John J "57 

Hailcy, B. li «7 

liailcy, l-<:»t«r M J53 

Halch, J. J'., Sr 286 

liakh, J.P.. Jr 3*4 

lialdwin, Henry F 153 

liankn, K. I,. O a4' 

Harry. F. J 3'9 

Barry, John S 113 

liarton, Frank M9 

Barton, Joieph 297 

Bcdcn, V,. G 238 

BcKok, Jo»iah W 169 

Bellinger, A. L ....250 

Berry man, E. C 200 

Bcrthunc, David 209 

Bingham, Kin«lcy S 137 

BUbing, J. S 339 

Blair. Aimin MS 

Boie., Milton M 225 

Bower*, John G 304 

Bowman, A. J., M. D aoo 

Bra/iley, EgUrt 244 

Braley, Aiuo» 194 

Brewer, Joel A 241 

Brewner, E. J 297 

Brine, Thomas ••224 

Brook*, J.W. H 355 

Brown, Charlei G 226 

Brown, C. S 257 

Brown, George 357 

Brown, Gtorge K... 332 

Buchanan, James 75 

Burch, Byron >8o 

Bunlets, J. B »>2 






JJurilci.*, Wm.U,, M. \i ^^ 

burton. K. N 240 

JJurtoti, iJavid. 315 

Burton, Frank S 280 

liurton, Krcd M .,..343 

Jiutton, A, M 312 ' 

Hutton. Wm. k 270 



(J 



C;tJy, i)rb<ju ,313 

Campbell, J.I. . . .23i 

Card, Charlc« M ^^5 

Carpenter. '1. J ji'y 

Carrow, John i32 

Cafccy, Oanifrt y^j 

Cliarnt^erlain. I). 1 ,y>j 

Clianil>«rfain, John M 353 

Chaint/crlatn, Jxivi IJ ,,,.367 

Chamlwrro. Win. M, V 334 

Chattcrtvn, W. A 293 

Claion. Kogcr W 337 

Cochrane, Hon. J. W 3(6 

Cody, Kol^ert l) 27S 

Covert, Geo. W , ^u^ 

Cradit, JoKph K-.. 383 

Crapo, Henry H . . , 149 

Crawford, K, J 287 

Cronkriifht, C'harlc* 353 

Cronkright, I. K 237 

CrUscy, T. W, . ,,,,..,.,.,,»65 

CroswelJ, Charle» M i6f 

Cunutngfaafn, 'J'homas 197 

Currle, John 2J3 

Corric, Oill^rt 391 

Currie, Dougald - 363 

D 

UagJe, Anthony 210 

DavU, A. J 2S7 

Day, E. S aoi 

Dean, Bcoj .,. itj 

Dean, Benj. F 363 

Dean, S. K «9' 

. Dean,.St<«:l E i'^ 

Depue, Win, T 274 

Depue, M. h 278 



l-io/r, Arli.i.r VV '/jy 

Orew, Sila» W 344 

IfunUf AIkx 191 

Dunning. Wm , 2$i 

l>union, k 3IO 



E 

KlUworth. S,W W^ 

Kinbury, K. P.... ,-.*-- 1170 

Emory, K fJ ,,,..... ^384 

England, Geo, W 331 

y.rwdy. SylvcMcf . .. ...33i 

K 

Felcli, Ali,i.c.i(, 117 

Fillnwre, Millard '/J 

Flock, Bhilip Kys 

Fran»;n. Andrew 248 

¥r-A*Ki, Abraham ,269 

Fro«t,G.W. ...312 

Fulrner, l-evi. .273 



G 



Garfield, James A 95 

Gatkill, Saml. D 340 

GibU, Win.D 34s 

Gleckler, Simon 311 

Good»peed, E, C, 294 

Coff. G. B -293 

Goold, H. W 1.32 

Gorman, John 322 

Gotham, F-, S 332 

Gotham. K. B 312 

Grace. John 337 

Grant, Ulyste* .S 87 

Greenleaf, W, A 208 

Greenly, William L 121 

G rover, U. E 244 

H 

Hager. Jaeob 255 

Haley. John 33> 



llaky, John 3*8 

HalWrl.S. B 211 

Hall, John M -.,»4 

Hanley, J^tn^t 'i ^ 

Hannah, Andf ■■ ;-/i 

Hare, D. A., y/j 

Harris, Wal»</ii ,2:^1 

Harriw^n, Will. H ........ 51 

Hart, Hon. Henry.,.., ..,....(77 
Hafekink, Will, R,,,, ,,.,,,,, .sag 
Havenk, Aaron,,/, #,,,#«#,... 279 

Hawley, A. M ,..,,.., ...^ 223 

Hawley, J>ennit 225 

Hayes. Kiitberford H 91 

Haywood. John,,,,. ,,,,205 

Hewiu, W. K 2)8 

Hewiti. Zachariah M 179 

Hiickling, Arthnr 242 

Higgins, Alljer' . "«97 

Higgins, Win .221 

Higgink, (/cofgc 292 

Hitkinan, Nelson ^y/t 

Holman.F. J »« 

Holmes. I,. .S ,,,,,«, 224 

Jfooper. Joseph,,,. J^ 

Hosner. Orville B,..- 27 j 

Howard, Cornelius ^cc 

Howe, James ^' . -282 

Howe, Wm. Jl ..229 

Howley, John (^ >(» 

HubUrd, F,)i 282 

HdbWl. Charles H, L 2i<. 

Hughes, James 274 

Hutchins, S, T i8« 



(nman, Krwin 



./>? 



5?DD^'>^ 



-25^^ 



Jadoon. Andrew 4i 

Jefferson, Thomas 27 

Jerome, David H ««s 

Joboson, Andrew 83 

Johnson. J. B 243 

Johnson. J, S,,,, 3^4 



■'' 

A 



r>.' 



r 






^ 



H^/®))^^* 



(' ) 



]=X 

1=1 

(!) 



'\ 



i 
1 



432 



K 



Kane, Michael E 236 

Kelly, M 2og 

Kelly, Wm 338 

Kent, Simeon =39 

Ketcham, P. H 367 

Kime, J. W 268 

Kirby, Charles ^94 

Kranick, C 303 



Lain, Joseph 346 

Laiiphierd, Wilbur 301 

Larkin, John - 351 

Lee, Benjamin . 213 

Leonard, Sylvester 214 

Lincoln, Abraham 79 

Lines, Silas W 357 

Loyer. John . ■ ■ -311 

Linton, Henry F 358 



M 



Madison, James 31 

Magee, Wm 288 

Major, James 211 

Marcy, Alanson 207 

Marcy, C. F 27Q 

Marsh, Alvin 207 

Marsh. Moses B 263 

Martin, Andrew J 258 

Martin, L W 281 

Martindale, Charles-- igo 

Mason, Stevens T 105 

Maxell, John 356 

McClelland. Robert i2g 

McCormick, John 354 

McCrary, Ferdinand ^311 

McCrary, Wm 283 

McCune, E. D 304 

McDougall, Neil 344 

McFarland, M. O 265 

McGowan, Edward 320 

McGregor, John 302 

Mclntyre, D. C ig6 

McKay, Wm 208 

McKinnon, Daniel 283 

McMillan, Allan R 354 

McNeil, Wm 544 



INDEX. 



McWil!i.ims, Hugh 2^2 

Miller, George 247 

Mills, Charles 267 

Mills, D. A 326 

M ills, Harding 284 

Mills, Sjmuel 255 

Mills, Wm. H 299 

M ills, Wm 238 

Mixer, Wm iSo 

Monroe, James 35 

Moore, Thomas 239 

Morrison, Joseph A 230 

Murray, Mrs. Hannah S 313 



N 



Nickels, 'l'h«imas ^i\ 



O 



Uiiu!!, James = 35 

O'Donnell . Daniel 198 

Oliver, Francis 324 

Openo, George 285 

Openo, J. E 294 

Oscar, Charles 355 

Ostrander, John C 198 

Osrrander, John W 284 

Oswald, Charles 334 

Oswald, E. E 321 

Overton, Charles 24y 



Parker, John O 193 

Parker, Solomon ' 227 

Parmelee, C, M 322 

Parsons, Andrew 133 

Patterson, John P 332 

Peck. W. H 279 

Peer, Charles B 201 

Perry, J. C 178 

Phelan, Wm 266 

Phetteplace, Wm 303- 

Phillips, Wm 285 

Pierce, Franklin 71 

Pierce, Jonathan 252 

Pierce. Phineas F 314 

Plumer.Wm. C 195 

Polk, James K 59 

Post, F. L 243 

Post, John 229 

Potter, Robert 272 

Powers, E. P 199 

I'lifTer, Uenj . T .134 



R 



Ransom, Epaphroditus 125 

Raymond, Alex. J 249 

Raymond, Henry. 249 

Raymond, J. P 253 

Richardson, Thos. T 192 

Riefenberg, Louis 278 

Roberson, John 3:'0 

Rockwell, George O 264 

Rockwell, Henry 197 

Rockwood, Urial 234 

Rogers, Lewis 263 

Rooker, James 219 

Rose, John F 179 



Salsbury, John . . 
Sanford, Charles S. 

Schearer, John 

See, Alfred 

Shaffner, S. D 

Shepherd, A. J 

Shively, A. J 

Short, Joseph D 

Sias, John 

Sias, John C 

Sias, Samuel 

Simons, Edwin 

Simons, T. B 

Simmon*!, Wm 

Skyn, Peter 

Slough, B. F 

Smith, Charles 

Smith, M. H 

Smock, George 

Stanton, James J . . . 

Starks, George 

Stearns, Wm. L. . . . 
Stowiis, Henry B .. 

Stuart, Henry 

Sugnet, John 

Suiter, John 

Swanton, John. . ... 
Swanton, Young. .. 
Swift, Phineas. - 



T 



Taft, Kthan 

Taylor, Zachary. 



■314 
■357 
.226 
.366 
.214 
.28S 
.215 
.182 
•277 
5C9 

.258 

.181 

.209 

.2tO 

.248 
.254 
. .298 

,.366 

■ 339 
■333 
•325 
■340 
, . 190 
. .220 
..302 
..236 
■•'99 
■■277 




Thompson, G. C 226 

Thornlon, H. G 299 

Thnrbcr, David E 235 

Thurber, Geoige A 222 

Tice, Wm. H 315 

Timmons, James F 310 

Townsend, Joseph C 237 

Tremper, Peter L 222 

Tripp. Joseph H 228 

'I'rowbridee, S. D 324 

Turner, Daniel M 291 

Turner, Mark E 294 

Turner, Robert A 298 

Turner, Samuel 353 

Turney, Amos 202 

Tyler, John 55 



Van IJuren, Martin 47 

Vance, Wm 256 

Van Kleeck, Hon . J 364 

\'an Wet;en, G . W 322 

N'isger, G. .\. . . .* 356 



w 



Wallace, Wm. M 192 

Warden, Geo. W 343 

Washington, Geo 19 

Watts, John J 194 

Wayne, Duncan 256 

Wayue, J. A 321 

Weed, Daniel 345 

Wesson, Louis H 363 

Whitman, James 240 

Whitman, John A 233 

Wilcox, Daniel 240 

Wilcox, David M 310 

Wilkinson, Samuel 220 

Windover, John 315 

Windover, Wm 209 

Winslow, Charles H 273 

Winslow, C. J 223 

Winslow, J. J 287 

Winslow, Loring S 34^ 

Wismer, Abram L 292 

Wismer,J.H 301 

Wisner, Moses 141 

Woodbridge, Wm .109 

Woodcock, Philip 250 

Wright, Eben 266 

Wright, Silas E 265 



I 



•f ■ 



T 




■f^^ 



<^^ii!]^iiti;i>' 





^tl^ 



/JVD£X. 



-4^^(<®VM 



433 






■^^ 






/: 



) 




Adams, John 22 

Adams, John Quincy 38 

Arthur, Chester A 98 

Bagley, John J 156 

Baldwin, Henry P 152 

Barry, John S 112 

Begole, Josiah W... . 168 

Bingham, Kinsley S 136 

Blair, Austin 144 

Brewster, E.J 296 

Buchanan, James 73 

Burtless, Wm. i 204 

Carpenter, T. J 318 

Clason, Roger W 336 

Covert, Geo. W .....218 



Crapo, Henry H 148 

Croswell, Charles M 160 

Currie , Gilbert 290 

Dean, Eenj 18:; 

De.in, Mrs. Jerusha 184 

Dean, Benj. F 360 

Dean, Mrs. Jane 361 

Felch, Alphcus itf, 

Fillmore, Millard 66 

Garfield, James A 04 

Grant, Ulysses S 86 

Greenly, William L 120 

Haley, John 328 

Haley, Mrs. John 329 

Harrison, Wm. H 50 



Hayes, Rutherford B go 

Jackson, Andrew 42 

Jefferson, I'hos. J 26 

Jerome, David H 164 

Johnson, Andrew 82 

Larkin, John 348 

Larkin, Mrs. Amanda 349 

Lincoln, Abraham 78 

Madison James 30 

Marsh, Moses E 260 

Marsh, Mrs. Nancy 261 

Mason, Stevens T 104 

McClelland, Robert 128 

Miller, George 246 

Monroe, James 43 



.132 



Parsons, Andrew 

Pierce, Franklin ^q 

Polk , James K ^8 

Ransom, Epaphroditus 124 

Sias, Samuel 306 

Sias, Mrs. Mary E 307 

Swift, Phineas 276 

Taylor, Zachary 62 

Tyler, John g^ 

VanBuren, Martin 46 

Warden, Geo. W .., 

Washington, George 18 

Whitman, John A.. 232 

Wisner, Moses 140 

Woodbridge, William 108 









INTRODUCTORY 

Value of Local History 
How Our Fathers Lived 

INDIAN HISTORY 

EARLY HISTORY 

TOWNSHIPS 

Midland 

Ingersoll 

Jerome 

Lincoln 

Jasper 

Homer 

Mounty Haley 

Porter 

Hope 

Geneva 

Warren 

Edenville 

Larkin 

Greendale 

Lee 

MIDLAND CITY 

The Beginnings 
Midland Incorporated 

Fire Department 
Business 
Church History 

Methodist Episcopal 

Presbyterian 

Baptist 



371 
371 
372 
374 
377 
382 
382 

383 
384 

38s 
385 
386 

3S7 
387 
3S8 

389 
389 
391 
392 
393 
394 

395 

395 
397 
397 
398 
400 
400 
400 
401 



Episcopal 
Catholic 
Secret Societies 
Masonic 
Royal Arcanum 
Knights of Labor 

POLITICAL 

County Officers 

REMINISCENCES 



401 
402 

403 
403 

403 
403 

404 
404 
405 



i^VD)^# 



Capture of Cubs 
Townsend Chased by 

Deer 406 

Deer Chased by Town- 
send 
Thirteen Deer in Prison 
Surprise to Gov. Begole 
Hard Times 
Indian Small-Pox 
Indian Etiquette 
A Bear's Vengeance 
Three Immense Bears 
Over-ruling the Verdict 
Indian Shrewdness 
Swallowed the Account 
The Champion Drinker 
Another Liquor Story 
Fine to be Paid in Liquor4ii 
Did not Pass 412 

Liquor Still Ahead 412 

- Divorced by a Justice 412 



405 



406 
407 
407 
407 
408 
408 
408 
409 
409 
409 
410 
410 
411 



Inquest, Liquor, etc. 
A Sheriff Done For 
Serio-Comical 



412 
413 
413 



Too Much "Cross Haul" 414 
Rough and Tumble 415 

Eating Bear Steak 415 

A Canuck Hoodooed 416 

LUMBER 417 

Life in a Lumber Camp 4 1 8 

EDUCATIONAL 419 

The Facts in this County 420 

THE PRESS 









Midland Sentinel 
Midland Times 
Midland Sun 
Coleman Advocate 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Agricultural Society 
Soil and Products 
Wealth of Midland Co. 
Game 
Railroads 
County Buildings 
County Poor Farm 
Midland Patriotism 
Dwight May Post 
W. C. T. U. 
A Terrible Necessity 



421 

421 

422 
422 
422 

423 

423 
424 

424 
425 
425 
426 
426 
426 
427 
427 
428 



■^C^Il!l§IlIlf^>^^ ^«»^ 



4^^((®>i 



-Hsefe. 




-<^^DD^liD>> 



"T 



■I 



yt 



> 



> 




(■■ 



c<-: 



(V 



(^^V®))?^f|- 



-^^^titi^nnf>=-^ — ^^^€3^ 



4^^^(^ 






.c,'' -s^ 






<i: 






.0 ■ 






"t. v-^' 



^-^' 






.0 '-. 



o Q" 



■fj. .*' 



.^^"^ 



'^>. <^^ 



,^:^ ■% 



^■P^. <*' 



,.% 



,0 • 






,,xV-^. 



"T^s^ A 



\.c,'- 



.^^ 



7- V* 



^^"^ -^'^^. 



^ -^ 



'</> .^V 



>v .,. 



-■{■^ 



■■f- 



i 0' 



<^^ v^' 






^^. S 






0' 



^^' 

^■5-^ 

,> -s-^. 



■ O' 



v>i^ '■^ 



-A K^ 






.•y 






,■■*■ - 



'^/. ^V^'' 






•■^>- ,^>^'•■ 






^ V" 



v'«- '^_ 



•■>. 



